Li, who is also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the call during a visit to the science park and several other research bases in the city Thursday.

During his inspection tour, Li was briefed on the development of the Zhongguancun area, where universities and research institutions are concentrated, and spoke highly of the achievements of local government in developing the science park.

After three years of effort, the science park had made remarkable progress in building infrastructure, making technological innovations, attracting talented people and improving the environment, he said.

Li urged municipal and central departments to further increase their support for the development of the science park to make it world-class in technological innovation, high-tech development, and bio-environment.

On the same day, the vice-premier also visited an exhibition of blueprints of the Olympic Park and the Wukesong Cultural and Sports Center, the two major sports facilities to be built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.