Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has stressed innovation in high-tech industries to improve their competitiveness.

Premier Wen made the remarks after a tour of Beijing's Zhongguancun High-tech Park, known as China's Silicon Valley on Friday afternoon.

At the headquarters of China's largest computer producer, Lenovo, Wen Jiabao praised the company's acquisition of IBM's PC division.

"This acquisition by Lenovo has drawn international attention, and is an important attempt for its internationalization. This must succeed, not only at present but also in a long run. And the key to the success lies in innovation." Premier Wen said.

Lenovo pours 2.5 billion yuan or about US$300 million into technical innovation every year and owns more than 2,000 patented products.

At the Zhongguancun Software Park, Wen Jiabao said China has rich resources in terms of human intelligence and market, which are both advantages for China's software industry. He also urged development of China's own intellectual property rights and protection of patents in the industry.

The premier also visited the offices of international companies at the Yizhuang Development Zone in southern Beijing. It contains around 100 multinationals including the factories of Nokia, Coca-Cola, GE and Mercedes-Benz.

In talks there, he stressed the importance of brand building for Chinese companies, saying independent intellectual property would boost their global standing.

China's high-tech parks are aimed at being cradles of technical innovation. They were set up to propel wider economic readjustment, and to help Chinese high-tech companies gain access to international markets.

Wen Jiabao said the high-tech parks are transforming China's traditional labor-intensive industries, and serving as a model for efficient use of resources.

(CRI June 19, 2005)