BEIJING, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Thursday called for innovation and more breakthroughs in key technologies in the country's machinery industry so as to make it globally competitive.

    Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks when attending an award ceremony for role models of the machinery industry.

    Jia, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, urged efforts to strengthen the sector's innovative capacity and to make progress in key technologies to accelerate and optimize its structural upgrading.

Jia Qinglin (R, front), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with the delegates and representatives of the model workers and the advanced collectives of the national machinery industry, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Feb. 19, 2009

    He also called for more investment and support for the sector.