China will promote integrated reforms in education, science and technology, and talent cultivation while enhancing the overall efficiency of the national innovation system, Education Minister Huai Jinpeng said on Friday.

Huai was speaking at a news conference held by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the guiding principles from the third plenary session of its 20th Central Committee, which was held in Beijing from Monday to Thursday.

"China has established the largest education system in the world," Huai said. Some 250 million people have received higher education, he said.

Comprehensive reforms of education, the sci-tech system and talent development will be deepened to achieve high-level self-reliance, Huai said.

The country will focus on strengthening targeted talent cultivation and scientific and technological innovation in higher education to provide strong support for establishing a major global center for talent and innovation.

In recent years, universities have played a significant role in the national innovation system, Huai said. "Major original breakthroughs have been achieved in the sciences regarding areas such as quantum, life sciences, new materials and space."

Categorized reforms in universities will be promoted, guiding institutions to leverage their strengths in different fields.

"We will accelerate the construction of world-class universities and disciplines with Chinese characteristics," said Huai.

To enhance innovation capacity, the country will further cultivate top talent in fundamental disciplines and advance the construction of subjects involving new engineering, new medical sciences, new agricultural sciences and new liberal arts.

"The ministry will strengthen the coordinated development of sci-tech and humanities education, improving students' innovative thinking in sci-tech by enhancing their humanistic qualities," he said.

Moreover, China aims to shift focus from ensuring access to education to ensuring the quality of education, Huai said.

"We will prioritize high-quality development across all levels of education, involving fairness into every aspect of comprehensive education reform," he said.

Huai highlighted that basic public education services should be provided in coordination with demographic changes.

High-quality educational resources will be increased, including optimizing regional allocation to address changes in the school-age population.

The development of students' interest in physical activities, aesthetic abilities and labor skills should be strengthened, while mental health education should be promoted, the minister said.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn