BEIJING, Oct. 18 -- Xi Jinping called Wednesday for more efforts to make China into a country of innovators and reach frontier areas of science and technology.

Xi made the remarks in a report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

Innovation is the primary force driving development, and it is the strategic underpinning for building a modernized economy, Xi said.

"We will strengthen basic research in applied sciences, launch major national science and technology projects, and prioritize innovation in key generic technologies, cutting-edge frontier technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technologies," he said.

These efforts will provide powerful support for building China's strength in science and technology, product quality, aerospace, cyberspace, and transportation, and for building a digital China and a smart society, he said.

Stressing the importance of fostering a culture of innovation, and strengthening the creation, protection, and application of intellectual property, he called for more efforts to cultivate a large number of world-class scientists and technologists in strategically important fields, scientific and technological leaders, and young scientists and engineers, as well as high-performing innovation teams.

The five-yearly CPC congress is China's most significant political meeting, attended by more than 2,300 delegates from all walks of life.