Senior Chinese leader Li Changchun, Friday urged the Chinese automobile industry to enhance indigenous technology and foster domestic brands while visiting an auto technology show here.

At the China Achievements Expo for Self-innovated Auto Technology and Products, Li Changchun said boosting innovative capacity was pivotal to economic restructuring and shifting the economic growth pattern.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said respect for innovation and talent should be the norm.

The auto show, which runs from Thursday to Monday, features more than 140 cars from 16 Chinese companies. It is the first auto show ever to feature Chinese home-made and home designed vehicles only.

A fifth of the vehicles on display are either energy efficient cars or cars fueled by new energies.

The auto show is co-organized by China-Europe Association for Technical and Economic Cooperation (CEATEC) and the China Automobile Dealers Association.