Demonstration areas

In May, a month after Li's visit, Pixian became the first county in China to be listed as one of 17 innovation and entrepreneurship demonstration areas, along with Haidian district in Beijing, and Yangpu in Shanghai.

Li's visit to Jingrong underscored his interest in innovation and entrepreneurship and the high priority he gives them.

Innovation and entrepreneurship will aid the exploration of new technologies and help to establish new businesses.

That will help the country to upgrade its industrial structure from low- to high-end, according to Ma Baocheng, a professor of public management at the Chinese Academy of Governance.

More jobs will be created by these new businesses and technologies, which may help to provide work for the record 12.5 million students who graduated from the nation's colleges and vocational secondary schools this year, he added.

High-tech enterprises and startups have featured regularly on the premier's schedules during his visits to 10 provinces and autonomous regions this year.