Premier Li Keqiang stressed on Monday the need to place more emphasis on the development of fundamental disciplines such as mathematics and physics, shore up fundamental research and further stimulate the creativity of scientists and researchers.

Li's comments came as he presided over a symposium in Beijing to solicit opinions from professionals in higher education, science and technology, healthcare and sports on the drafts of the Government Work Report and the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2021-25) and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035.

Seven people, including a university president, an actor, an Olympic champion and the manager of a rice cooperative, were invited to speak at the State Council meeting.

Li heeded suggestions from Luo Jun, president of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and Fang Zhong, an academician in physics with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

It is important to strengthen weak areas in the compulsory education system so that children from rural and remote areas have access to better and more equal opportunities, Li said.

Universities and high schools must give stronger emphasis to mathematics and physics to give students a more solid theoretical foundation and foster more innovative talent, he said.

After listening to Wang Hang, founder and CEO of Haodf, one of China's largest online healthcare companies, Li highlighted the need to continue to strengthen the public health system and give a bigger boost to Internet Plus healthcare initiatives.

Zhu Ting, a gold medalist in volleyball at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, spoke about the training of reserve talent in sports.

The premier agreed, calling it important to strengthen youth training in fundamental skills and encourage the private sector to offer more high-quality sports products and services.

Li said China has secured remarkable achievements in coordinating pandemic containment and socioeconomic growth, which embodies the nation's people-first philosophy and the strength of the people. The people power growth and progress, and the country must continue to uphold a people-centered approach to better pool the public's wisdom and secure continuous new progress in social undertakings in the next five years, he said.