BEIJING -- Vice-Premier Li Keqiang called for more efforts to expand domestic demand and balance urban and rural development in a bid to facilitate the country's economic restructuring and improve the livelihoods of China's people.

Li made the remarks during an inspection tour of central China's Hunan province that lasted from Oct 10 to 11.

During his inspection, Li visited rural households in the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, as well as a hybrid rice research center and a digital data processing company in the provincial capital of Changsha.

Li said local governments should work harder to improve livelihoods as part of the country's efforts to reform the income distribution system and promote coordinated social and economic development.

"Basic livelihood problems concerning education, housing, health care and social security must be resolved for the sake of better living standards, increasing domestic demand and sound economic growth," he said.

Li said rural areas and underdeveloped regions, which boast great potential for increasing domestic demand, are the key to building a moderately prosperous society in China.

When inspecting a national hybrid rice research center in Changsha, Li pledged more support for researchers in order to allow them to make more breakthroughs in boosting hybrid rice output.

Li also called for increased innovation in the development of China's agricultural industry as a whole in order to ensure grain supplies and stabilize food prices.