China will speed up the building of national innovation system and improve the environment for innovation, President Hu Jintao said Saturday.

Addressing the APEC CEO Summit, Hu said China will strive to promote innovation-driven development as progress in science and technology and innovation are crucial in accelerating the shift of growth model.

Stressing that competent personnel are the primary resources for development, Hu said China will continue to pursue the strategy of making China strong through science, education and human resources development.

According to Hu, China will focus on strengthening the capacity for indigenous innovation, deepening reform of the management system for science and technology and endeavoring to remove key obstacles hindering innovation.

The president said China will speed up the building of national innovation system, strengthen mechanisms for human resources development, improve the environment for innovation, and enhance opening-up and cooperation in science and technology so as to build an innovation-driven country.