A call for innovation in science and technology as well as in social and economic systems to ensure a sustainable growth for the country has been made by Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan.

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

China has been able to maintain a dynamic economic growth since it launched the reform and opening up drive in the late 1970s because its conception of development had 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 its model of development, improve its quality of development and take the road of innovation with Chinese characteristics so 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 attempt to make breakthroughs in critical and core technologies such as micro-electronics, software, mobile communications, nuclear power and manned space, among others.

China should continue with its reforms and accelerate innovations to its social systems including improving the administrative structure to make 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 participated in Sunday's meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2006)