BEIJING, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang Friday called for greater efforts to transform China from a country with a large population into one rich in human resources.

"It is the 'key' to building a moderately well-off society in all respects and for modernization," said Zhang at the opening ceremony of a forum on human resource development in Beijing.

He said China must uphold the principle of respecting labor, knowledge, talent and creation, and continue the strategy of building a stronger country by developing human resources.

The forum was organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security as some 570 people from the government, higher-learning institutions and business attended the event.