Shanghai is committed to continuing its leading role in China's reform and development, the city's new Party secretary has pledged.

Party Secretary Xi Jinping made the remarks during a series of inspection tours throughout the city during the week since he took office.

The development of Pudong is a requirement of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, the city's 54-year-old leader said while inspecting the Pudong New Area.

He urged an increased recognition of the importance of the country's strategy and pledged to speed Pudong's development, making it a key driver for the city's efforts to build itself into an international economic, financial, trade and shipping center.

Xi said Pudong will be required to lead the way for the city, which has been asked by the central government to take the lead in China in introducing new economic growth patterns, upgrading innovation capabilities, promoting reform and building a socialist harmonious society.

Among his Pudong inspection stops were visits to the Shanghai information center of China UnionPay - the nation's sole credit card payment network - and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's data processing hub.

Xi said the new area should seize reform opportunities to step up innovation and strengthen the city's function as a financial center. He said the city will continue to improve its financial systems, reinforcing financial supervision, safeguarding financial security and nurturing talent.

After inspecting the Waigaoqiao port area and bonded zone, Xi said the five-year plan through 2010 is a crucial period for the city to build itself as a shipping center and that the city's shipping activities will also help bolster foreign trade and international financial business.

Xi, who held leadership positions in Zhejiang and other provinces, was appointed Shanghai Party secretary on March 24. He took over from Mayor Han Zheng, who had served as acting Party chief since September, when former Party secretary Chen Liangyu was removed from the post for alleged involvement in the city's social security fund scandal.