Premier Li Keqiang issued important instructions on the first national college student innovation and entrepreneurship competition, held in Changchun, Jilin province from Oct 19 to 20.

Themed “Internet Plus”, the competition attracted more than 200,000 students from 1,800 universities and colleges across the nation.

Premier Li noted that students are “fresh troops” for the ongoing reform of mass entrepreneurship and innovation.

He stressed that in addition to hard study students should also improve practical skills in innovation and entrepreneurship.

The competition provides an important platform for the development of students and serves as a link between production, study, research, practice and application, the Premier said.

He also hoped educational departments and teachers explore education reform, integrating mass entrepreneurship and innovation with education, providing talent support for the construction of an innovation-oriented country.

Vice-Premier Liu Yandong met with the winners, tutors, and judges of the final competition. She also presided at a meeting focusing on college educational reform in innovation and entrepreneurship, stressing that intellectuals are key to innovation and urged further reform in colleges to speed up the implementation of an innovation-driven development strategy.