BEIJING, June 23 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday urged the nation to intensify its efforts to develop vocational education.

Xi said vocational education is an important part of both the national educational system and developing a skilled labor force, in an instruction to a two-day national work conference on vocational education, which was convened on Monday.

He stressed vocational education must be valued because it is an important path for young people to achieve success and could stimulate employment and start-ups as well as foster technical skills.

The president urged the nation to create an environment that will give full play to one's talent.

The nation should strive to nurture hundreds of millions of highly competent laborers and skilled technical workers, according to Xi.

He also emphasized that local governments should prioritize the development of a modern vocational education to facilitate the realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.