Chinese Premier stresses development of social undertakings

BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday urged to boost development of social undertakings and improvement of people's livelihoods while pushing forward the transformation of economic growth mode.

Speaking to a seminar for provincial and ministerial level officials presided over by Vice Premier Li Keqiang and attended by Vice President Xi Jinping, Wen said development of science, education and culture was key to the transformation of China's economic growth mode and its sustainable development.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) speaks as Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) and Vice Premier Li Keqiang (L) listen in a seminar on the  implementation of the Scientific Outlook on Development and the  transformation of the mode of economic development in Beijing,  capital of China, Feb. 4, 2010. The seminar, attended by the  country's provincial and ministerial chiefs, opened on Wednesday  at the Party School of the Communist Party of China(CPC) Central  Committee in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

He urged that plans should be made to forge a number of emerging strategic industries as the mainstay of China's economy as soon as possible, and that traditional industries should be upgraded with the latest technologies to enhance their efficiency and competitiveness.

He also called for stepped-up efforts in technological self-innovation, the creation and protection of intellectual properties.

Reforms in China's education system must also be carried forward so as to promote quality education and to give the schools more say in their operation, the Premier said.