BEIJING - Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao on Monday said China was ready to further integrate applied math with other disciplines and sectors to achieve sustainable economic growth.

Li made the remarks when delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the Eighth International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM).

Li said the Internet had emerged as a new engine that powered Chinese economic growth, with China recording the most online retail transactions, totalling 2.8 trillion yuan ($457.8 billion) last year.

The vice president stressed that China's innovation-driven development strategy, which includes the "Internet Plus" plan and new industrialization, had enabled developments in science and technology, including mathematics.

More than 3,000 participants from over 70 countries and regions attended the congress, which is being held in China for the first time.

The event, which will last until Aug 14, includes lectures and symposia.

The applied math congress has been held every four years since 1987, when the first event was held in Paris.