JINAN, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has called on the country's companies to enhance their innovative capability so as to provide support for "sound and rapid" economic and social development.

"Improving innovative capability is the core of our national development strategies and a fundamental way to transform the country's economic growth pattern," said Li Changchun, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, during a visit to east China's Shandong Province, which lasted from Friday to Tuesday.

While visiting local companies, Li encouraged them to increase their efforts in research and development in order to produce more high-tech products with independent intellectual property rights.

"Large enterprises are a major force for accelerating the transformation of China's economic growth pattern, promoting technological progress and participating in the global market," he said.

He encouraged Shandong to create optimal conditions for the creation of an array of companies with strong international competitiveness.

While visiting local cultural centers, Li said the service of cultural facilities should be improved in order to give the public a better cultural education.

Li also called on artists to explore and create commercial enterprises that will meet public demands for art and culture.

At the Qingdao Publishing Group, Li encouraged the company to set up a modern rights system and promote multi-industry acquisition in order to grow into a "strong, vigorous and competitive" cultural enterprise.

(Source:Xinhua)