Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of the China Central Committee, made the remark while talking with a group of Chinese experts and research institutes heads Monday afternoon.

Li said that China has made remarkable progress in scientific and technological development since 1978 when the country began to implement reform and opening-up policies, but there is still a big gap between China and the developed countries at scientific and technological levels.

He highlighted the importance of innovation in concepts, systems and mechanisms, saying that such innovations will provide an ideological basis, significant guarantee, and a driving force for scientific and technological innovation.

"We should further emancipate our minds and do away with all outdated ideas that do not assist scientific and technological progress," Li said.

Li said that greater efforts should be made to create a healthy environment for scientific personnel to give full rein to their initiative and creativeness. More measures should be taken to protect intellectual property rights, Li said, adding that special attention must be paid to the application, registration, protection and use of patents.

(China Daily November 28, 2001)