SHANGHAI -- Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai has called for faster development of the integrated circuit industry to spur industrial upgrades.

Speaking during an inspection tour of IC industrial bases in Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Shanghai from September 2 to 5, Ma said that the IC industry is the core of the information technology sector and plays an important role in safeguarding the country's information security.

Chip design and manufacturing will be prioritized in pushing for IC development, said the vice premier.

More support will be given to encouraging innovation in the sector and building up a talent pool, he added.

China is the world's largest IC market, but it can only meet about 20 percent of its domestic demand with independently designed IC products, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.