The government should leave room for enterprises and create favorable environment for the appearance of innovative talents, a former minister of science and technology said Tuesday.

"Everyone is now talking about fostering innovative talents. Yet, talents are not worked out but are created by a favorable market environment," said Xu Guanhua, former minister of science and technology.

"In technological innovation, the government's work is to foster a favorable environment where talents will mushroom by themselves," said Xu, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body.

Xu made the remarks after participating in a panel discussion during the CPPCC's annual session.

This is the same for innovative enterprises, Xu said.

"The government can provide support to enterprises in their innovation, but such innovative enterprises can only survive the fierce market competition by themselves," Xu said. "If you push them too hard, it does them no good."

The government should make strategic plans for an industry from a higher standing point rather than give instruction on what the enterprises should do.

"There will be a bright future for China's technological innovation if the government creates a favorable environment and works out strategic arrangement," Xu said.

"Let the market decide what enterprises should do," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2012)