SHANGHAI -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday urged greater efforts and more concrete measures to strengthen basic research, enhance China's capacity for original innovation, and further solidify the foundation for building the country's strength in science and technology.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while attending a symposium on strengthening basic research in Shanghai.

He stressed that basic research is the origin of the entire scientific system and the master switch for all technological issues.

Xi acknowledged that a new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, and that global competition in science and technology is increasingly centered on frontier areas of basic research. He noted that the importance of original and disruptive innovation is becoming increasingly prominent.

"We must seize opportunities, rise to challenges, put basic research high on agenda, advance it with sustained commitment, and strive for continuous achievements," he said.

Xi emphasized the need to strengthen overall planning and top-level design to optimize the systematic layout of basic research.

He called for further clarifying the main targets and key areas of basic research, reinforcing the leading roles of national research institutions and high-level research-oriented universities, as well as encouraging and regulating new types of research and development institutions.

Deep integration of industry, academia, research and application, led by enterprises, should be promoted to smooth the innovation chain spanning basic research, application development and commercialization, Xi said.

He called for strengthening the development of basic disciplines and fostering coordinated development between applied and basic disciplines.

Xi noted that it is essential to integrate the development of education, science and technology, and talent, make comprehensive efforts in cultivating, introducing, and utilizing talent, and expand the talent pool for basic research.

He advocated carrying forward the spirit of scientists, promoting science popularization, and stimulating the imagination and curiosity of young people, so that pursuing basic research becomes their lifelong aspiration.

Xi stressed the need to strengthen support for basic research, and called for gradually increasing the share of funds for basic research and establishing a mechanism of diversified inputs.

He also called for a systematic approach to developing major sci-tech infrastructure, the advancement of intelligent research platform systems, and the improvement of a categorized evaluation system tailored to the characteristics of basic research.

Efforts should be made to enhance the working and living conditions of those engaged in basic research, foster an open, inclusive and failure-tolerant innovation environment, and strengthen research integrity, Xi said.

He called for actively integrating into the global innovation network, deepening international exchanges and cooperation in basic research, jointly tackling major scientific issues such as climate change, energy and environment, as well as life and health, and actively participating in global sci-tech governance.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, attended the symposium.

Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, presided over the symposium.

Ding called for greater confidence and resolve, as well as more practical measures and actions, to comprehensively strengthen basic research, enhance original innovation capabilities, and strive for a high level of self-reliance and strength in science and technology.