China needs a stronger system to protect its economic security while it is determined to carry on the opening-up policy under increasingly tough international competitions, President Hu Jintao said in Beijiing Saturday.

The government must improve its capacity to monitor economic security situations, give early warnings and respond to the crisis, Hu said when presiding over a group study of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The country also must make more efforts to protect the safety of its assets and citizens abroad, Hu, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said at the group study on opening-up and economic security.

Hu said China will stick to and expand its opening-up drive, which has been proved conducive to the country's economy and technological progress.

The opening-up drive can also help sharpen China's competitive edge and create a favorable international environment, he said.

The country will try to change its foreign trade structure, exporting and importing more quality products rather than pursuing the increase of quantity, he said.

It will open wider its high-tech industry and manufacturing to foreign capital, and introduce more advanced technologies, experience of management and high-level personnel from foreign countries, he said.

The government will also support more Chinese companies to invest abroad by improving cross-border service and risk management, he said.

China will take up its international responsibility and try its best to help other developing countries, Hu said.

The country will deal with the problems of exports' quality, climate change, environment protection and intellectual property in a proper way while protecting the legal interests of domestic companies and the stake of the country, he added.

Wang Xinkui, a professor with the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade, and Long Guoqiang, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council, gave lectures at the study session.

(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2007)