Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu met with Yuan Longping, the Chinese winner of the international 2004 World Food Prize in Beijing on Monday. He passed on the State Council's appreciation to him for his great contributions in raising the nation's rice yield.

Yuan, dubbed the "father of hybrid rice," developed the world's first hybrid rice variety in 1974, increasing rice output by between 15 and 20 percent. He was awarded the World Food Prize this month for his outstanding work.

The vice premier thanked Yuan for his creativity and perseverance in promoting scientific agriculture and called on all researchers in the sector to learn from him.

Hui noted that China's agriculture and rural productivity should rely on science, which is crucial in developing modern cultivation methods, increasing farmers’ incomes and promoting rural economics.

He also said China should work ceaselessly to go on making bold innovations and scaling new heights to make breakthroughs in agriculture, technology and grain breeding.

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2004)