Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili called for more efforts to improve the country's capacity for independent innovation and compulsory education in rural areas.

"Improving the capacity of independent innovation should be a priority of the science and technology work of governments at all levels," said Chen during her week-long study tour of Guangdong and Hainan Provinces, which ended Saturday.

She stressed that enterprises should be the core of the country 's technological innovation and investment, and their needs should be included in national and local scientific and technological subsidies.

"All local governments should strictly implement the national policy of compulsory education in rural areas, which cancels tuition and provides financial subsidies for poor students," Chen said.

Chen also called for efforts to strengthen the building of distance learning systems for the poor in rural areas and to continue reconstructing the poor school buildings to guarantee children's safety.