BEIJING -- Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang has called for the development of surveying and mapping services and better use of geographical information to serve the country's development.

Li visited an innovation base of the national surveying and mapping services and met with a group of top researchers on Monday, according to a statement issued by his office on Tuesday.

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He said China attached great importance to the development of geographic information surveying and mapping sector because it is vital to the development of new industries, such as internet of things and the development of digital cities.

The state bureau of surveying and mapping was recently renamed as the state bureau of geographical information, surveying and mapping. Li said this indicated that the government supports further development of geographical information sector.

For example, the surveying and mapping service is key to the development of China's marine economy and national security, he said.

He also said surveying and mapping professionals had provided important services to disaster relief and reconstruction work after the devastating Wenchuan earthquake in May 2008.

China now has more than 12,000 institutions licensed to conduct surveying and mapping services.

The output value of the country's geographical information industry last year reached 100 billion yuan ($15.4 billion), with 400,000 people working within the sector.