China will beef up its muscle in independent innovation and speed up the development of science and technology and education in the next five years, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said.

Wen made the remarks when explaining about the Proposal on the Eleventh Five-year Program on National Economy and Social Development, which was adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the16th Communist Party of China Central Committee a week ago.

Mankind is now experiencing a global revolution in science and technology, which will bring about both unprecedented opportunities and challenges for all nations, Wen said. Strengthening innovation ability will sharpen a nation's competitive edge in the world, he added.

To enhance its independent innovation ability, China must speedup the establishment of a technological innovation system, improve the market environment, implement a supporting policy in finance and government purchase, make use of global scientific resources, and enhance the protection of intellectual property rights, he said.

It is imperative to carry out thoroughly the strategies for revitalizing the country relying on science and technology and education and the strategies for building up the country relying on talents, in order to strengthen China's independent innovation ability, he explained.

Therefore, it is of great importance to give the priority to the development of education to foster a great number of top-quality people, he added.