WUHAN - Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang urged local governments to soundly implement policies introduced by the central government to boost state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Zhang made the remarks during his visit to local bases of the SOEs in central Hubei province from Feb 1 to Feb 3.

He said that SOEs has overcome difficulties and achieved steady and rapid growth in 2011, making a good start for economic development of the next five years.

"China's SOEs will be envisaged with arduous conditions to continue economic growth as the global economic situation will be severe and complicated in 2012." Zhang said.

In order to complete the economic tasks in 2012, Zhang reiterated that the SOEs should strengthen strategic plans and awareness of potential dangers, encouraging SOEs to expand both domestic and international cooperation.

He also urged SOEs to continue structure reform with more investment in innovation and to make efforts to solve the problems in management mechanism in order to make progress.