Entrepreneurship, innovation get boost amid slowing growth

Mass entrepreneurship and innovation will continue to be the driving forces for economic growth amid downward economic pressures this year, top officials said on Friday.

"Encouragement for mass entrepreneurship and innovation plays a vital role in boosting strategic emerging industries' contribution to overall economic growth," said Shen Zhulin, deputy director-general of the Department of High Technology Industry under the National Development and Reform Commission, the nation's top economic planner.

Strategic emerging industries, mainly in high-technology sectors, contributed 8 percent to overall economic growth last year, hitting the target set by the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015).