1st Ld: China's Xi highlights "big picture" in reform drive

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on officials to view the country's reform drive in the context of "a larger picture" in order to deepen reforms.

Xi made the remarks at the 12th meeting of the central leading group for deepening overall reform, during which he called on authorities to "grasp the larger picture of reform" and fully implement the strategic layout of the "Four Comprehensives".

"(Authorities) should subordinate themselves to the overall situation and have the courage to face up to challenges," he said, in order to advance reform.

An overall plan to promote innovation in reform in selected regions was adopted at the meeting, according to a statement issued by the group.

Members of the leading group also agreed that authorities must place scientific and technological innovation at the heart of the drive.

Authorities should break down structural and institutional obstacles, advance new sci-tech, management, branding and business models and promote innovation in military-civic integration, the statement read.

It said innovation should be encouraged as China presses ahead with "going global" and "bringing in" strategies in opening up, so as to improve the country's labor, information, knowledge, technique, management and capital efficiency, and build a new growth engine for social and economic development. Endi