BEIJING - A senior Chinese commerce official said on Wednesday that the country will work to optimize the import mix of mechanical and electronic products so they can play a bigger role in China's restructuring efforts.

Li Jinzao, vice minister of the Ministry of Commerce, made the remarks at a forum of the ongoing 13th "China Hi-Tech Fair" in Shenzhen.

His remarks echoed a guideline issued in March on promoting the imports of mechanical and electronic products during the 2011-2015 period, in which China pledged efforts to encourage the imports of high-tech products.

Li said that China will improve existing policies to attach more importance to the imports of advanced technology, equipment and components to spur innovation.

Meanwhile, he said China will organize more trading events to exchange and cooperate with international businesses, and will continue to push the United States and European countries to ease restrictions on civil high-tech exports to China.