Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping urged Shanghai, China's economic and commercial hub, to push forward its reform and opening-up in an inspection tour to the metropolis.
The inspection tour took three days and ended yesterday.
Reform and opening-up is the key to restructuring the nation's development pattern, Xi said.
He urged the city's Pudong New District, its industrial center, to try new policies and reform its structure with an open and innovative mind and global perspective.
Pudong, one of the forerunners of the country's economic reforms, should aim to build an energetic and effective management system that meets the needs of the nation's scientific development.
He also expressed hope Shanghai would boost its spending on research and development to allow it to sharpen its competitive edge.
Xi also met with volunteers working at the Shanghai Expo venues during the tour. He urged those working at the Expo to serve with the utmost passion and devotion.
The Expo is a good chance for Shanghai to improve it management, Xi said, adding that the city should learn the good practices of other cities.