Xi presses reform, innovation

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping called for more reforms and innovation on Monday as the country is entering its 13th Five-Year-Plan period.

"Reform and development have achieved a high degree of integration. Further development needs to be based on reforms while progress in reforms gives a strong impetus for development," Xi said during the 18th meeting of the central leading group for comprehensively deepening reform.

The spirit of reform and innovation must be strengthened and the country's governance system shall be modernized, Xi said.

Last week, the Communist Party of China (CPC) announced proposals for mapping out a blueprint for the country's development over the next five years starting 2016.

The document, the CPC Central Committee's Proposals on Formulating the Thirteenth Five-year Plan (2016-2020) on National Economic and Social Development, was adopted at the Fifth Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee which ended Oct 29.