国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese leader asks Shanghai to upgrade growth pattern

SHANGHAI, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin Friday asked Shanghai, the economic center of the country, to upgrade its growth pattern through technology innovation and environmental protection.

In a working tour in Shanghai, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the city should use the upcoming World Expo as a "historical chance" to readjust its growth model and strive for stable and relatively fast economic growth.

Jia Qinglin (front), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, inspects the control center of Yangtze River Bridge-tunnel in Shanghai municipality of east China, Jan. 22, 2010

The city on Thursday held the 100-day countdown for the six-month-long mega event.

Jia stressed the importance of industrial upgrading, brand marketing, research and development during visits to a shipbuilding factory of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation and the Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. Ltd..

Jia Qinglin (front L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, inspects Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Corp., in Shanghai municipality of east China, Jan. 22, 2010.