The Chinese government wants more to be done to improve product quality so as to push forward the healthy development of the nation's economy.

In a decision on issues of product quality which was made public here today, the State Council noted that upgrading product quality is of paramount significance to the revitalization of the Chinese economy.

The economy has entered a new phase of development and major product items have shifted from the seller's market to the buyer's market, according to the document.

Enhancing product quality will not only meet the needs of the domestic market, but also help to promote exports and raise China' s economic efficiency, comprehensive national strength and competitiveness.

All enterprises should be market-oriented and put more effort into upgrading their product quality, the document said.

They should do more basic research on product quality, it noted.

In the meantime, government departments and institutions should strengthen supervision of product quality in line with the rules of the market economy.

Supervisory and judicial departments should hand down heavy punishments for those enterprises that make shoddy or substandard products.

The document also calls for the media across the country to do more to raise the awareness of quality standards among enterprises and the general public.