BEIJING, May 26  -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang on Monday urged more efforts in advancing the nation's capability in developing and producing new seed varieties.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the World Seed Congress in Beijing, Wang said China had nurtured a range of agricultural seeds that had played an irreplaceable role in enlarging the nation's grain output.

The development of new seeds has also contributed to world food security by feeding the 1.3 billion people in China, he added.

Wang called on the nation to strengthen intellectual property rights protection in the seed industry and broaden the industry's cooperation with the outside world.

The World Seed Congress was initiated by the International Seed Federation in 1924. This is the first time that the event has taken place in China.