Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has asked southern city of Shenzhen, the country's first special economic zone, to accelerate development and make an exemplary role in promoting all-round social and economic progress in China.

Wen made the remarks on Friday during an inspection tour in Shenzhen after attending a special international meeting in Indonesia for helping the tsunami-hit Asian countries.

Wen said the central government "always attaches great importance to, actively support and have great hopes for the reform and development of Shenzhen."

"Since it became a special economic zone, Shenzhen has fully lived up to its role as a 'window' and 'test field' for China's reform and opening-up," Wen said. "It has achieved world-stunning achievements in economic and social progress and urban construction."

He said the city faces new tasks and requirements as China steps up efforts to promote all-round economic and social progress and modernization.

Wen urged the city to be a model in pursuing a scientific viewpoint of development, promoting all-round, coordinated and sustainable development, and improving the quality of economic growth.

In this process, the premier said, the city should pay more attention to optimizing and updating its industrial structure and promoting the development of high-tech and service sectors.

In addition, it should give more attention to environmental protection, economic use of resources, coordinated economic and social development and building a harmonious society, Wen said.

Wen asked the city to boost cooperation with neighboring Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in economic, scientific and technological and cultural fields.

Source: Xinhua