BEIJING, April 13 -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has stressed providing strong momentum for high-quality development with confidence and innovation.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in Beijing during an inspection tour of unicorn companies -- start-ups valued at 1 billion U.S. dollars or more that are not yet listed.

He visited a satellite maker, an energy-storage company and a smart-driving technology company, and learned about their products as well as their research and development progress.

Unicorn companies have great growth potential and represent the direction of economic transformation and upgrading, the premier said. Their confidence and vitality demonstrate the strong momentum of China's economic recovery and the prospects of its high-quality development, he added.

Li noted that enterprises are the main players in scientific and technological innovation. He said he hopes that they can focus more on achieving breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, and contribute to China's efforts to achieve high-standard self-reliance in science and technology.

He urged governments at all levels to create a better environment for enterprises' development and innovation, and provide them with accurate, high-quality and efficient services.