Jia Qinglin, China's top political advisor, has called for further reform and opening-up during his visit to southern Guangdong Province.

As the frontier and epitome of China's economic reform and opening up, the southern province had made remarkable progress in the past three decades and should explore new ways to further the reform, said Jia, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) chairman, during the six-day trip that ended Sunday.

Jia visited several leading domestic companies and Sino-foreign joint ventures in the province known for its export-oriented manufacturing.

"The key task of China's economic development in the future is to change its development pattern."

The country should work to improve its capability of research and development, industrial structure, energy efficiency and environmental protection, he added.

The top political advisor also dropped in on needy families who had suffered in the recent winter storm in the northern part of the province.

"We should not only guarantee people's minimum living standard but also improve their lives step by step."

Jia met local political advisors, members of democratic parties and leaders of local business circles. "We should try our best to unite as many people as possible to contribute to the country's development," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2008)