Vice Premier Wang Qishan on Monday urged six central China provinces to accelerate the transformation of their economies by developing modern industry and urbanizing at a faster pace.

Wang made the remark at the opening ceremony of the 2011 Expo Central China in Taiyuan, the capital of China's Shanxi Province.

The central provinces of Henan, Shanxi, Hubei, Anhui, Hunan and Jiangxi are primarily known for their agricultural output, producing more than 30 percent of China's grain every year.

Wang said the key to boosting the region's development is to make structural reforms and maintain "sound market order." He said the six provinces have made notable efforts in handling industrial transfers from China's coastal regions over the last five years under the central government's developmental guidelines.

"The central region has made important contributions to the country's sustainable development," Wang said.

The 2011 Expo Central China is aimed at boosting regional cooperation through investment projects that span a variety of sectors, from clean energy and equipment manufacturing to agriculture and new materials.