State-councilor Liu Yandong has called for deeper restructuring of the country's science and technology sector, increasing its capabilities of independent innovation and "welcoming the triumphant opening of the 18th Party Congress with excellent achievements."

"Seriously implement major central decisions and deepen implementation of the national blueprint on science and technology," said the official, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, while addressing the year's national conference on science and technology that opened in Beijing Wednesday.

In her speech, the state councilor recalled the scientific and technological achievements China made in 2011, the first year of the 12th five-year plan period (2011-2015), describing it as a good beginning.

The official urged scientists to concentrate on researching and developing key technologies in different industries. The fostering of new, strategic industries and the upgrading of traditional ones should be supported and guided with innovation in science and technology, she stressed.

Liu pledged to reenforce innovation in agriculture and make great efforts to develop technology related to people's lives, while increasing assistance for studies on basic sciences and frontier technologies.

China should also step up its international cooperation in this field, by improving government-to-government cooperative mechanisms and strengthening exchanges at nongovernmental level, the official added.

"Encourage and attract more excellent, high-end talents and international research institutions to open up new businesses in China," she urged. "Support our country's scientists to participate in major international research programs, so as to raise our country's level of internationalization in the field of science and technology."