BEIJING - Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang on Thursday urged the country's defense industry to enhance its ability to self-innovate and strengthen core competitiveness to promote defense modernization.

Zhang made the remarks during his inspection tour of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp on Thursday morning.

"As a key sector of strategic importance, the defense industry is the basis of a country's defense modernization as well as an important force of social and economic development and scientific and technological progress," Zhang said.

He encouraged the country's defense industry to enhance self-innovation capacities, develop modern weapons and make its products useful for both civilian and military purposes.

Zhang also called for intensified efforts to deepen reforms in the defense industry, foster more talented individuals for the industry and strengthen enterprise management.