SHENZHEN, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on botanists worldwide to increase cooperation in protecting biodiversity and promoting green development.

Xi made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the International Botanical Congress (IBC), which opened in Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province on Monday.

Noting that plants are the primary producer in the ecosystem and have a profound impact on Earth's ecology, Xi said human beings have never ceased their exploration of botany, and the utilization and protection of plants have promoted the progress of human civilization.

China is among the countries with the richest plant species in the world, and its people have displayed affection for nature and plants since ancient times, Xi said in the letter.

The president noted that China has made remarkable achievements in rice breeding, genomics, evolutionary biology and biotechnology, among other areas.

China will uphold the concepts of innovative, balanced, green, open and shared development, strengthen ecological improvement, and build a beautiful country, said Xi, adding China will carry out international cooperation in botany and work together with other countries to protect Earth.

Premier Li Keqiang said in a written instruction that the IBC features an international academic conference at the highest level in the field of plant sciences and plays an important role in global botanic development.

The conference will help China's worldwide exchanges in plant sciences and improve the scientific research level of global botany, Li said.

The Chinese government has insisted on a fundamental national policy of saving resources and protecting the environment, placed ecological improvement at a prominent position, and reinforced research and international cooperation in plant sciences, he said.

The IBC was established in 1900. About 6,000 experts, scholars and delegates from nearly 100 countries and regions attended this year's conference.