BEIJING - China will strengthen its efforts to spur emerging sectors for quality, efficient and sustainable economic growth in 2013, the country's top economic planner said Tuesday.

Zhang Ping, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said China will implement favorable policies and initiate pilot programs for strategic emerging industries next year.

The country will further take advantage of the driving force provided by innovation by promulgating development plans for biotechnology and satellite navigation in 2013.

It will also encourage enterprises to increase expenditures on research and development and initiate major projects on medical apparatus and instruments, high-end equipment and new materials, Zhang said.

However, this is only part of the efforts to achieve a new economic growth pattern, which will take enhancing the quality and efficiency of economic growth as a central task, according to a central economic work conference held December 15-16.

To realize the goal, China will strive to reduce its industrial overcapacity, boost the tertiary industry, step up the exploitation of new and renewable resources and improve infrastructure in rural and urban areas, the NDRC said.