BEIJING - China will support firms in boosting their spending on research and development, state television cited the cabinet as saying on Wednesday.

China will also support the development of venture capital, the State Council, or the cabinet, said after a regular meeting.

(Reporting by China monitoring desk and Kevin Yao; Editing by Nick Macfie) ((kevin.yao@thomsonreuters.com; +8610 6627 1215; Reuters Messaging: kevin.yao.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))