Chinese enterprises should make more efforts to invent new technology in the face of the world financial crisis, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday.

Wen made the remarks when visiting south China's Guangdong Province, saying it was innovation which would help enterprises find more opportunities and play important roles in the world market.

"No matter how intensive the competition is, innovative products can find their position in the global market," Wen said.

"China should play a leading role in innovation worldwide," he added.

When visited Guangzhou-based Echom Science and Technology Co. Ltd., where he encouraged young employees to take on more responsibilities and have more confidence in the country's economy.

"Youth should make full use of the knowledge in every process of products design," he said.

Meanwhile, governments at all levels should encourage foreign investors to invest and cooperate with Chinese companies in high-tech industries, while domestic enterprises should expand their businesses into overseas markets, he said.

Wen also stressed the importance of cultural industry development, which was less hit by the economic havoc and still maintains a strong momentum for growth in China.

"The cultural industry has a big potential to expand amid economic stagnancy, which is expected to be greatly boosted by new technologies and innovated products," he said.

As a result of the world financial crisis, Guangdong saw its trade volume, including imports and exports, take a year-on-year decline of 23.1 percent to US$115.4 billion in the first quarter.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2009)