BEIJING -- Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Guozhong has stressed the importance of promoting agricultural sci-tech innovation and the application of such advances, and of achieving greater self-reliance and strength in agricultural science and technology to support rural revitalization.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a research tour in the capital city of Beijing on Wednesday.

During his trip, Liu learned about advancements in agricultural technology and the development of new crop varieties, and about facility agriculture and the construction of high-standard farmland. He urged the steadfast advancement of agricultural modernization and the development of new quality productive forces in the sector in light of local conditions.

Efforts should be made to invigorate the seed industry, shore up weak links in agricultural mechanization, improve yields of grain and oil crops, and boost the use of advanced technologies like big data and artificial intelligence in agriculture, he said.

Liu also called for pooling the resources and strengths of research institutions, colleges and enterprises to improve the overall efficiency of innovation.