Nation eyes Tianjin as innovation engine

The central government is stepping up efforts to build Tianjin into the country's new economic growth engine through innovation.

To achieve that goal, Tianjin, a northern port city only an hour's drive from Beijing, set up a national innovation demonstration zone in the Tianjin Binhai Hi-tech Industrial Development Area on Friday.

Cao Jianlin, vice-minister of science and technology, said during the opening ceremony that this is just the first step, but it is one that officials hope will set an example for the reform of the national science and technology system.