China doubled its spending on basic research over the past five years, Premier Li Keqiang said as he delivered a government work report to the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing on Sunday.

The country fully implemented the innovation-driven strategy and improved and upgraded the industrial structure during the period, according to the premier.

"We promoted development of the real economy through innovation, continued to foster new drivers of growth, and effectively countered external attempts to suppress and contain China's development," Li said.