China should establish a market-oriented technical innovation mechanism taking enterprises at the core and able to better integrate institutions of higher education and research and development (R&D) outfits, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said Sunday in a congratulatory letter to mark the inauguration of a special association.

He said that developing such a mechanism accorded with the global trend in science and technology and economic development would provide a significant foundation for China to build itself into an innovative nation.

Zeng hoped the China Association for the Promotion of Collaboration between Production, Learning and Research could serve as a conduit between governments and companies, schools and R&D institutions and give its contribution to the country's economic transfer from quantity to quality.

State Councilor Chen Zhili said at the opening ceremony that the government would strive to create a good policy ambience, enhance research and exploration on the integration of the three parties and turn the mechanism into an efficient, open and flexible one.

Xu Zhijian was elected to head the association by more than 300 delegates from governmental departments, institutions of higher learning, State-owned and private enterprises.