Chinese Premier calls for more technical innovation in high-tech industries

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R) gestures as speaking to a technician during a visit to Zhongguancun High-tech Park in Haidian District, northwestern Beijing June 17, 2005.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Friday called on the country's high-tech industries to make greater efforts on technical innovation during inspecting Beijing's high- tech parks.

On Friday afternoon, Wen first visited several companies in Zhongguancun High-tech Park, the so-called "Silicon Valley of China". The nearly 14,000 high-tech companies there scored a combined sales revenue of 369.2 billion yuan (44.6 billion US dollars) in 2004, and had a 20-percent growth in the first half of this year.

"The acquisition of IBM's PC division has created favorable conditions for your leapfrog development, but you still need to make greater efforts in turning all the conditions to your advantages and expand your market shares," said Wen, when he visited China's largest computer producer Lenovo. The company puts 2.5 billion yuan (302 million US dollars) into technical innovation a year and has owned more than 2,000 patents of independent intellectual property.

The premier also visited the Yizhuang Economic and Technological Development Zone in southern Beijing where nearly 100 international companies like Nokia, Coca-Cola, GE and Benz built their factories.

During his inspection, he stressed the vital importance of technical innovation and said that more independent intellectual property will ensure Chinese companies' competitiveness in the world.

The high-tech parks should play an active role in boosting the country's technical innovation, and should become the engine to push the readjustment of the economic structure in their regions. They should become a platform for Chinese high-tech companies that aim at international markets, he said.

Wen stressed that the high-tech parks should always emphasize high-tech industries, help transform traditional labor-intensive industries, and make efficient use of all resources.

Source: Xinhua