Noting that the ongoing 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) proposes objectives for building a well-off society, Jiang said, "To achieve these objectives, we need to work hard. We should adopt new thinking on ways of development, make new breakthroughs in reforms and bring about a new situation in open policy implementation."

Jiang said the 16th National Congress of the CPC is of great significance for China's socialist modernization in the new century.

Jiang made the remarks here Saturday at a panel discussion attended by Shanghai delegates to the Congress.

After hearing speeches made by delegates at the discussion, Jiang Zemin said that Shanghai's comprehensive strength has grown markedly, that the quality of life of people in the city has kept improving and that its urban environment has turned distinctively better.

The CPC Central Committee has approved Shanghai's new urban development plan and has made it clear that the city should develop itself into one of the world's economic, financial, trade and shipping centers, Jiang said.

He pointed out that innovation is of crucial importance for development. Local research institutes in Shanghai should work hard to develop technologies with independent intellectual property rights and apply new technologies in production. He called for creating good conditions to attract R&D institutions and technology development centers of transnational corporations.

Shanghai's development needs support from the rest of the country, Jiang said, explaining that the city should strengthen cooperation with the Yangtze River delta area and the country's western areas to achieve common development.

Jiang urged local Party officials to enhance their competence in guiding reforms, opening-up and the modernization drive, and give full play to the roles of all social circles