Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong said Friday intensified efforts were needed to foster new industries and train talents for the development of the country's central provinces.

Liu made the call during an inspection tour in central Hubei Province, home to the mammoth Three Gorges Project.

She said strategies such as invigorating the country with science and education should be fully implemented to drive forward the development of central China.

Efforts should be made to push forward the research, development and industrialization of sectors including new energies, electric vehicles, energy saving and environment protection, biomedicine and telecommunications, she said.

She asked enterprises to embrace innovation and establish their own brands to raise overall competitiveness.

She also called for efforts to build high-level universities with Chinese characteristics and promote the development of vocational and compulsory education.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2009)