Li Peng, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, spoke highly of Shenzhen for its fast-developing hi-tech industries during a recent inspection tour of the city in southern Guangdong Province.

Li urged local officials to work harder to turn Shenzhen into a beautiful modern city under important instructions from President Jiang Zemin.

During his stay from March 10-13, Li visited a number of industrial units such as Yantian Port, Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and Shenzhen Hi-Tech Industrial Park as well as commercial and residential areas.

The top lawmaker met with city leading officials and leaders of some hi-tech companies discussing a number of ways to accelerate the local economy.

Hi-tech industries have been an industrial pillar in the past 20 years. Hi-tech companies generated 81.98 billion yuan in industrial output last year, accounting for 40.5 percent of the city's total industrial output.

Shenzhen now ranks sixth among all large and medium-sized cities in China in terms of economic power.

Li pointed out that Shenzhen's current campaign against pornography, gambling and drugs has created a sound socio-economic environment in the city.