The Northeast region used to lead China's industrialization till the 1980s with historic contributions in promoting the industrialization process and establishing the complementary national industrial system. However, in the new century, one arising problem is that the Northeast region lacks developing forces, unlike other regions of the dramatic economy growth. This paper analyzes the causes of this problem, the important issues of the sustainable development and the major methods for the innovative development. Some policy suggestions are made on optimizing the commercial environment and constructing a multi-approach cooperation.

The key to revitalizing the Northeast China lies in people. For the revitalization of the Northeast China, we need to pay more attention to the human factors, especially, the "innovators", so as to build a regional innovation system with the "innovators"as the core, explore the potential functions of the existing "innovators", reinforce the introduction of "innovators", focus on the integration of industry and education to cultivate the "innovators", establish a service platform of "Big data + Innovators", stimulate the creativity and the enthusiasm of the "innovators" and support the regional long-term sustainable development through the continuous innovation of the "innovators".

2018年9月，习近平总书记视察东北三省后，在深入推进东北振兴座谈会上的重要讲话中讲到：要依靠创新把实体经济做实、做强、做优，坚持凤凰涅槃、腾笼换鸟，积极扶持新兴产业加快发展，尽快形成多点支撑、多业并举、多元发展的产业发展格局。要落实好总书记的指示，必须建立一个有利于创新的生态系统。