Premier Li Keqiang pledged to reinforce China’s manufacturing prowess on June 15 to ensure medium-to-high growth.

The manufacturing sector has contributed greatly to the country’s growing comprehensive national strength, Li said during a fact-finding visit to the Ministry of Industrial and Information Technology, but noted that part of the sector is still at a middle or even low-level grade in international terms.

As many developed countries are striving toward re-industrialization, it has become more important for China to speed up its industrialization and informationization to upgrade manufacturing - an important support pillar for the economy - in a way to counter downward pressure and get through the economy’s transitional period, Li said.

In that process, China must improve its manufacturing of high-tech equipment as well as ordinary consumer goods, Li said.

Innovation and entrepreneurship should be encouraged to transform China from a manufacturing outsourcing destination for developed economies to one that boasts many renowned brands of its own, he said, noting an integration of manufacturing and the modern service sector is necessary in the process.

China must aim to upgrade its manufacturing by embracing emerging technology such as big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things and 3D printing, the Premier said and he also called for higher cost-efficiency and clean production in the manufacturing sector.

China’s manufacturing industry should take the initiative to go global through international cooperation, Li said, noting reforms of State-owned enterprises should deepen while assistance needs to be in place to nurture small enterprises.

The State Council, China’s cabinet, unveiled an ambitious plan, “Made in China 2025” on May 19, which aims to upgrade the manufacturing sector in the following decade.