(Photo: Xinhua)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a letter of congratulations to the opening ceremony of 2018 ASEAN-China Year of Innovation. 

The event was held in Beijing on Thursday.

Li said in the letter that the new round of scientific revolution and industrial transformation is sweeping the world, and the role of innovation in supporting and leading economic and social development has become increasingly prominent. China is implementing an innovation-driven development strategy, accelerating to build an innovative country, boosting mass entrepreneurship, developing new driving forces of its economy, and upgrading its economic structure.

Li said deepening innovation cooperation is the common need for China and the ASEAN in dealing with global challenges and achieving sustainable development. In recent years, cooperation between China and the ASEAN has made substantial achievements, including exchanges in technology, building laboratories, and science parks.

Li expressed his hope that the two sides can take this year as an opportunity to upgrade innovation cooperation to boost China-ASEAN cooperation and East Asia regional development.

The China-ASEAN Forum of Innovation also opened in Beijing on Thursday.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also sent a letter of congratulations to the opening ceremony of 2018 ASEAN-China Year of Innovation.