On March 24, CAS President Lu Yongxiang, who’s also Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made important instruction on striving for building XTBG into a bright pearl in southwestern China.

Sparing time from his tight schedule, Prof. Lu reviewed a report letter and some pictures of two newly established and reconstructed gardens presented by Dr. Chen Jin at the sidelines of CAS Annual Work Conference 2008. President Lu is satisfied with the progress made by XTBG and encourages its scientists and staff to create it a green bright pearl in southwestern China.

 President Lu has given continued concerns over the development of XTBG. As early as 1999, he has instructed XTBG to jointly construct the Garden in cooperation with Yunnan provincial government. XTBG has become the fist botanical garden conserving over 10,000 important tropical plant species. 34 living plant collections and a digital botanical garden management system have been established. XTBG is currently focusing on capacity building and landscape optimizing.