On July 6, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee, inspected XTBG in the company of other leaders as Minister of Finance Mr.Jin Renqing, Minister of Communications Mr. Zhang Chunxian, and Mr. Bai Enpei ,Secretary of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee etc. Prof. Chen Jin, the CPC secretary and deputy director of XTBG and other XTBG superintendents also accompanied Premier Wen to visit some plant collections within the Garden. A memorial tree was planted by the premier.
During the premier’s inspection, Prof. Chen Jin reported the general situation, advances in scientific research, germplasm preservation and public education of XTBG since its participation in the CAS pilot project of knowledge innovation program. The premier concerned about the scale of botanical gardens and XTBG recruitment of overseas students. Premier Wen was particularly interested in the founder of XTBG, Prof. Cai Xitao’s biography after listening to the introduction of Prof.Cai's contributions to Yunnan province in development of tobacco, rubber and tropical medicine. The premier also showed interest in the culture of Dai ethnic group.
Wherever he went, there was always warm applause and cheer.
Premier Wen was pleased to sign his name while in the Tropical Rainforest Ethnic Culture Museum. Afterwards he was kind enough to take group photos with some XTBG scientific personnel for memory.
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