HAIKOU -- On an inspection tour in Hainan province in recent days, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, president of the People's Republic of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed that decisions and policies of the CPC Central Committee must be carried out to the letter. The general principle of pursuing progress while maintaining stability must be adhered to and the new development philosophy must be carried out in a complete, precise and all-round manner, Xi said. Reform and opening up must be deepened in all respects and innovation must be pursued as a driving force for development, he said. Prevention and control of the epidemic must be coordinated with economic and social development and so must be development and security, he stressed. We must emancipate mind, break new ground, strive for innovation, work hard together, overcome difficulties squarely, and accelerate the construction of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics and global influence so that Hainan will become a model to follow for China's reform and opening up in the new era, with a view to setting the stage with concrete action for the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

From Sunday to Wednesday, accompanied by Shen Xiaoming, Party committee secretary of Hainan, and the governor Feng Fei, Xi went to Sanya, Wuzhishan and Danzhou where he visited scientific research institutes, a national park, a village of the Li people and a port wharf.

On Sunday afternoon, Xi first visited the Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory in Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Sanya. Xi was briefed on the science and technology city and the laboratory, watched how the lab's platforms supported seed industry innovation. He approved of Hainan's efforts in exploring an innovative mode for agricultural science and technology to support and guarantee national food security.

Xi visited the lab's large instrument public service center and a center of precision molecular design breeding and talked with the research staff working there.

Xi pointed out that if we Chinese people want to hold tight in hands our rice bowl, we must develop the seed industry on our own. He urged efforts to focus on making breakthroughs when it comes to ensuring food security and securing the supply of important agricultural produce. Efforts must be made to realize self-reliance in seed technology and make sure that sources of seeds are under our own control, Xi said. We must secure China's food supply with our own seeds, he said.