Premier Li calls for more innovation in Asia

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BOAO, Hainan, March 24  -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday said Asia should take advantage of human resources to pursue an innovation-driven growth model.

Speaking at the 2016 Boao Forum for Asia, Li said Asia needs to count on its some four billion people to achieve sustained prosperity and development.

"Asia will have a new future only when we have innovation and skilled people," Li told the forum in Boao, south China's Hainan Province.

The premier said the region has achieved a "miracle" thanks to the diligence and intelligence of the people and should make more use of those qualities.

Innovation is one of the key principles in China's pursuit of an economic transition from growth driven by investment and exports to growth led by consumption.

Li said that the region should try to raise productivity of the labor force through education and training, and increase investment in research and development.

"We should make use of new models such as the Internet Plus. We should build platforms for innovation cooperation and encourage the sharing of best practices ... to involve the general public, especially young people," he said.

"This will help countries in our region to embark on a path of development driven by innovation and growth led by upgrades," he said.