China to promote Beijing technology innovation hub drive

BEIJING - China will expedite efforts to make the capital a national scientific and technological innovation hub, so it can be a leading example of the country's innovation drive, the State Council announced Thursday.

The focus will be to "develop fundamental research frontiers" and "cultivate global competitiveness" in priority sectors including smart manufacturing, biological medicine, clean energy and environmental protection, according to a statement released after a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

The innovation drive will also include the neighboring regions of Tianjin municipality and Hebei province to support the metropolitan area's economic growth, according to the statement.

The government also announced promoting practices in north Beijing's Zhongguancun area, which eased green card rules to attract foreign talent, to other areas, the statement added.

The meeting also passed a draft amendment regulating radio frequencies, which cut administrative approvals and increased the punishment for illegal telecommunication fraud.