BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang Friday called for improving the management and supervision of China's state-owned assets and promoting the development of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), to preserve and increase the value of state property.

Chinese state assets management and supervision authorities should work to improve monitoring systems and boost the scientific development of state-owned economies, as Chinese SOEs will face the "pressing task" of reform and development over the next five years, Zhang told a national conference on state assets supervision and management.

Chinese SOEs progressed rapidly in the previous five years, he said, adding that state-owned economies play an important role in the development of the Chinese economy.

Zhang urged state assets management and supervision authorities to further improve the organizational and legal systems, accelerate the reform of SOEs, and transform the development pattern of SOEs, which are responsible for taking the lead in China's scientific innovation and making contributions to the nation's development.