Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice President Zeng Qinghong and Vice Premier Huang Ju, visiting the ongoing China International Telecommunications Technology Expo (PT/Expo Comm China) on Wednesday evening, called for more efforts to boost the country's information technology industry.

"We should accelerate technology innovation, improve homegrown research and development capability and make every effort to tackle core technologies and enhance core competitiveness," said Wen.

He said that development strategies should be pursued to make the IT industry a pillar industry of the economy and enable it to play a significant role in China's modernization.

Zeng agreed that IT industry development should be made a priority task, noting that this would have a social as well as an economic impact.

"We should both enhance cooperation with other countries and press our own advantages. We should set up a system to attract, cultivate and retain talented people," said Zeng.

Huang, noting the market potential of the IT industry, said, "China should expand and improve its R&D in information and communications technologies. We should also support leading Chinese companies to move into the global markets."

PT/Expo Comm China is sponsored by the Ministry of Information Industry and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The largest telecom event in Asia, this year it has attracted more 600 delegations from 23 countries. It opened on October 26 in Beijing and will continue through October 30.

(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2004)