Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice President Zeng Qinghong and Vice Premier Huang Ju called for more efforts to boost the country's information technology (IT) industry Wednesday evening while visiting an ongoing communications technology expo.

"We should accelerate our pace of technology innovation, better our homegrown research and development ability and make painstaking efforts to tackle core technologies and enhance core competitiveness," said Wen.

He said that the IT industry, as a basic, guiding and pillar industry of China's national economy, should play a significant role in China's modernization process and in building a well-off society.

"We should waste no time in exploring an information development strategy to enhance China's electronic and telecommunications technologies," he said.

Zeng said China should develop the information industry as a priority task and widely apply it into both economic and social fields.

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

"China should improve its comprehensiveness in researching and developing information and communications technologies. We should also support elite Chinese companies to strive for shares of global markets," said Huang.

"The IT industry is a rapidly developing and promising industry which is supposed to enjoy vast markets," he said.

Also present was State Councilor Chen Zhili.

The China International Telecommunications Technology Expo is an expo sponsored by the Ministry of the Information Industry and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. It has attracted more 600 businesses from 23 countries and regions.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) visits the 2004 PT/Expo Comm. China in the Beijing International Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, on the night of Oct. 27, 2004.

Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong (R Front) visits the 2004 PT/Expo Comm. China in the Beijing International Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, on the night of Oct. 27, 2004.

Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju tries a latest video phone during a visit to the 2004 PT/Expo Comm. China in the Beijing International Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, on the night of Oct. 27, 2004.