Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has urged firms in the old industrial base in northeastern China to promote economic restructuring at a time when the economy is recovering from a slowdown.

The country should accelerate the strategic adjustment in economic structure and lose no time to push forward the economic transition, Li said during a visit to Heilongjiang Province from Thursday to Sunday.

Such efforts are aimed at consolidating the country's recovery and steering the economy towards "a sound and fast development," by digging up new potentials for growth, he said.

Li told firms in Heilongjiang to accelerate scientific and institutional innovations for new growth to boost their vitality, on top of previous development as the industrial base and rich natural resources in the province, such as coal and forests.

Li also emphasized the importance of maintaining the country's current macro economic policies for further growth, echoing comments repeatedly made by top leaders amid concerns over a change in polices after the Chinese economy rebounded to expand 7.9 percent in the second quarter.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2009)