The ceremony for the 2nd China Quality Awards took place in Beijing on March 29. Premier Li Keqiang sent his congratulations to the organizations and individuals honored and gave important instructions on quality issues.

Premier Li said quality development is the basis of a powerful country and the key for economic transformation. Governments at all levels should attach great importance to quality improvement as a way to promote structure upgrades and accelerate the new economy’s development and cultivate new driving forces.

Supervision management needs to be strengthened and quality standards need to be improved, the Premier said. All illegal behavior concerning quality should be severely cracked down on in efforts to safeguard the health, safety and legitimate rights and interests of the general public.

Practitioners from all walks of life should learn from the organizations and individuals on how to build more brands that customers are satisfied with and pursue quality and excellence as the values guiding all society, Premier Li said.

State Councilor Wang Yong attended the ceremony and made a speech. He said more quality products should be provided, especially in the manufacturing and service industries. As a national strategy, brand development and innovation needs to be encouraged to assist the transition of new and old driving forces, Wang said.