College students are a fresh and dynamic force in pursuing China's strategy of innovation-driven development, and the education authority should better channel their talent, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday.
The practical abilities of students should be improved, while those wanting to start their own businesses must be supported, Li said in a written instruction on the first "Internet Plus" Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition for College Students.
The competition is being held in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, from Oct. 19 to 20. Around 200,000 students from more than 1,800 colleges took part.
Li called on education departments and practitioners to do everything in their power to improve the creative abilities of students to ensure the supply of talent and intellectual support that would help build an innovation-driven nation.
Educational reform is necessary in promoting innovation, said vice Premier Liu Yandong at a symposium after meeting with the student winners of the competition on Tuesday.
She also spoke about suitable college specialties and high-quality teaching during the symposium.
International cooperation and exchanges, especially the introduction of high-quality educational resources into China from abroad, will support innovation and entrepreneurship, Liu said.
Mass entrepreneurship and innovation are emerging as new growth engines, and the central government will continue to support such activities, Premier Li said during his opening remarks at the first mass entrepreneurship and innovation week on Monday.
Confronted with economic headwinds, China is counting on entrepreneurship and innovation to generate new jobs and improve the competence of its workforce, and, ultimately, helping the economy.
China's economy posted a 6.9 percent growth year on year in the third quarter, the first time the quarterly growth rate has dropped under 7 percent since the second quarter of 2009.
