Premier's southern trip to push China's reform drive

During his visit to Chaihuo Makerspace, a creative center crowded with young inventors, Li said makers with creative ideas should be helped to set up their own businesses.

Li also visited Huawei Technologies Co. The company has 16 research centers worldwide and owns over 36,500 patents.

Given complicated economic circumstance with traditional industries, China should promote innovation as the new driving force for the economy, Li said.

During the tour of the new Guangdong free trade zone (FTZ), Li said the FTZ should take advantage of its proximity to Hong Kong and Macao. The zone along with another two in Fujian and Tianjin follows the success of Shanghai FTZ. In Guangdong FTZ investment approval has been cut to one fifth of the previous arduous process that could take up to 800 days.

At Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute, Li looked forward to a new edge in global competition with high added value products manufactured in China on the world market.

Li placed flowers at the statue of Deng Xiaoping in Shenzhen. Deng led China's market reform and opening up over 35 years ago, which led directly to the rapid growth of the last ten years.