Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday urged scientific development of Tianjin Binhai New Area, an economic powerhouse in north China, when joining a panel discussion with deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) from Tianjin Municipality.

Hu said it was urgent to accelerate the transformation of economic development pattern and promote growth led by innovation and driven by internal impetus.

Lying between Beijing and the Bohai Gulf, the Binhai New Area, with a population of 1.4 million, is an economic engine that drives the development of the country's north.

The new area should play a leading role in the country to implement the scientific outlook on development and focus on improving people's livelihood and solving problems that the public care the most, Hu said.

The city should seek coordinated social and economic development, and continuously improve its capabilities in urban planning, construction and management to build Tianjin into an international and modern city where people enjoy living.