China will move to cultivate more skilled workers to help upgrade its manufacturing sector, Vice Premier Ma Kai said Thursday.

Addressing a meeting with representatives of workers, Ma said skilled workers are a major driving force for technological improvement, economic growth and social progress, and more efforts should be made to foster them.

China is carrying out its manufacturing improvement campaign, or "Made in China 2025," to enhance the quality of economic growth, and workers with expertise are urgently needed.

The government will improve policies to better train, select and recruit talent and make good use of both vocational schools and enterprises, Ma said.

Ma also called for higher salaries and social status for skilled workers, and asked society to pay more attention to their development.