BEIJING — Vice-Premier Liu Yandong on June 2 stressed the need for implementation of major science and technology programs to improve the country’s innovation capability.

“Implementing major science and technology programs is essential to raising our country’s innovation capability and realize leapfrog development,” said Liu when addressing a national conference on these programs.

Liu hailed progress made in the past decade since these major projects were launched in 2006, saying they have helped to lift the country’s sci-tech and industrial core competitiveness and support its supply-side structural reform and enhancement of its national strength.

The vice-premier ordered targeted efforts and clarified responsibility to ensure preset objectives will be achieved.

Efforts should be made to achieve major breakthroughs in key technologies, speed up the process from lab results to production, and deepen reform to train more leading sci-tech talent and innovative companies, Liu said.

China has nailed down 16 major sci-tech programs including developing its own large aircraft, manned space programs and water pollution control and treatment in the country’s middle and long-term program for sci-tech development from 2006 to 2020.