Leading Party officials must develop a good work style, so as to be capable of leading the people to blaze new trails in the ongoing reform and opening-up drive, he said.

Jiang, who is also Chinese president, made the remarks during a study tour in south China's Hainan Province on February 22-28. He was accompanied by Qian Qichen, a vice premier and member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, and Zeng Qinghong, an alternate member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat.

During his stay in the scenic tropical island province, Jiang visited both rural and urban residents in Sanya, Qionghai and Haikou cities, and Ledong County.

In his talks with local officials, Jiang stressed the importance of developing Hainan, the youngest province and largest special economic zone in the country, and praised the local people for their achievements in all fields.

Top priority should always be given to the issue of agriculture, especially the efforts to increase farmers' income, he said.

During his trip, the top leader also showed special interest in the life of ethnic groups, as Hainan is home to large numbers of ethnic minorities.

Jiang's remarks were also focused on the protection of local resources and the environment. To damage resources and the environment means destroying the local productivity, he stressed.

Greater efforts must be made to renovate the system and develop science and technology, in order to achieve new progress in the new century, he said. Special economic zones should set an example in reforming the system and lead the country in the efforts to build a more perfect socialist economic system, he added.

While calling for an efficient estimate of the challenges and opportunities brought about by the technological revolution, Jiang said that the key to achieving renovations in science and technology is to foster and attract talented people.

During his stay in Sanya City, the general secretary chaired a workshop to discuss the issue of Party building, mainly the improvement of the Party's work style.

The Party must be better constructed so as to ensure that China's socialist modernization continue on the correct course, Jiang said at the workshop. Its work style is closely related to the image and fighting capability of the Party, he noted.

Efforts should be made to strengthen the building of the grassroots organizations of the Party, with priority given to the work style of the grassroots Party officials, according to Jiang.

(Xinhua 02/28/2001)