BEIJING, Nov. 1 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday sent a letter to congratulate the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on its 70th founding anniversary.

On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extended greetings to the scientists and employees of the CAS.

Xi said that over the past 70 years, under the leadership of the CPC, the CAS has solved a large number of major scientific and technological problems concerning the overall situation of China, achieved breakthroughs in numerous key core technologies for development and made a series of first-class innovative achievements.

The deeds of several generations of scientists of the CAS in seeking truth and serving the country and the people and their selfless dedication demonstrate the patriotism and noble character of Chinese scientists, Xi said.

Xi stressed that innovation is the first driving force for development in today's world. He expressed the hope that the CAS could stay true to its original purpose and mission, seize strategic opportunities, set up a new trend of reform and scale the heights of science and technology.

He urged the CAS to speed up the creation of cradles of original innovation, accelerate breakthroughs in key core technologies, and strive to take up the sci-tech high ground, so as to make new and greater contributions to building China into a leading country in science and technology.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made an instruction, calling for efforts to carry out the innovation-driven development strategy.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, encouraged the CAS to deepen the sci-tech system reform, create a favorable environment for innovation, lay a solid foundation for basic research following the laws of science, as well as strengthen international cooperation, so as to catch up with the future frontiers of sci-tech development and meet the country's long-term development demands.

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