Participants attend the 2017 National Governance Forum in Beijing, Sept. 21, 2017. This year’s forum was jointly held by China’s Counsellors’ Office of the State Council and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. Xinhuanet organized this year’s event. (Xinhuanet/Chen Jie)

Members of the political, academic and business communities gathered in Beijing Thursday to shed light on improving the quality of goods and services, and fostering economic growth in China.

The 2017 National Governance Forum, themed "Entering the era of quality", attracted more than 400 participants.

Speakers unanimously highlighted the role of sci-tech innovation, craftsman spirit, and supply-side structural reforms in boosting the quality of Chinese products.

Wan Gang, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, said that China’s sci-tech innovation is experiencing a transformation "from quantity to quality."

He called for upholding the idea of “putting quality first” in sci-tech innovation, and giving top priority to “quality” while implementing the strategy of innovation-driven development in the country.

Xu Xianping, counsellor of the State Council, echoed Wan’s view that technological innovation is the most important impetus to quality improvements in goods and services.

“Craftsman spirit is the second powerful sword,” he added, urging companies to uphold the entrepreneurial spirit and craftsman spirit, and improve their quality management and core competitiveness through brand-building.

Apart from the role of innovation and craftsman spirit, speakers attending this forum also put emphasis on supply-side structural reforms.

The main constraint that affects China's economic development is the supply-demand imbalance, especially the insufficient supply of high-end products and services, said Hou Jianguo, vice director of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Hou said companies, especially small and medium sized companies, play an important role in providing high-quality products and services as well as improving innovation ability.

This year’s forum was jointly held by China’s Counsellors’ Office of the State Council and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

Each year, a major issue in China’s economic and social development is chosen for discussion and deliberation to build up consensus and provide policy recommendations.