China needs to attach more importance to innovation for the further development of China's automobile industry, Wang Xia, chairman of the Automobile Industry Committee with China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, told a forum on Tuesday.

At the opening ceremony of the 2011 Global Automotive Forum in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Wang said the innovation of the auto industry should be different from the traditional idea of innovation, which focuses on new product development and new technology application.

The auto industry should innovate the whole automobile industry chain, which would be impetus for growth and expansion and also ensure the health development of the auto industry, Wang said.

This is the second annual meeting of the Global Automotive Forum with the theme "From Volume Leader to Innovation Leader". The forum will last from October 11 to 12.