China's State Council, or the cabinet, on Wednesday approved guidelines to boost the development of the Yangtze River Delta.

The Yangtze River Delta Region, which covers affluent Shanghai, as well as Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, is a major economic engine in China.

"The region should quicken its industrial restructuring and seek to create an industrial structure with a modern service industry as the pillar," said the guidelines.

The eastern economic hub should step up efforts for industrial upgrading and turning itself into an advanced global manufacturing base, according to the executive meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.

The region should improve its overall capacity and ability to innovate while aiming for sustainable development, the guidelines said. The delta region should also coordinate the development of rural and urban areas.

Improving the delta's international competitiveness plays a significant role in the country's reform and opening up, said the meeting. This year is the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening up policy.

The meeting also urged the delta to modernize its agricultural sector. conserve energy and land, protect the environment and perfect its employment and social security systems.

The State Council also called on the region to set up a unified open market system and help lead the way toward a sound market economy system nationwide.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2008)