Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan has called for innovations in science and technology as well as in social and economic systems to ensure a sustainable growth for the country.

He made the remarks while speaking at the 2006 China Business Summit that opened in Chinese capital Beijing Sunday.

China has been able to maintain a dynamic economic growth since it launched the reform and opening drive in the late 1970s because its conception of development has undergone a series of innovations in the process, said the vice-premier.

"In the new stage of development, China... will need to further upgrade its conception of development, innovate on its model of development, improve its quality of development and take the road of innovations with Chinese characteristics, so that it can attain a sustainable and harmonious economic and social development," Zeng said.

He called for innovations in science and technology, saying that China should try to make breakthroughs in critical and core technologies such as micro-electronics, software, mobile communications, nuclear power, manned space, among others.

China should continue with its reform and accelerate innovations to its social systems, including improving the administrative system to make its government more efficient, he said.

The summit is jointly organized by the China Enterprise Confederation and the World Economic Forum. Over 400 business leaders, experts and government officials took part in Sunday's meeting.

Source: Xinhua