Premier Li Keqiang joined deputies from South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region to the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress in group deliberation on the Government Work Report in Beijing on March 6.

According to the deputies, the production of sugarcane in Guangxi accounts for two-thirds of the nation's total, but it has a weak position in competition with neighboring countries due to high costs, low profits, and limited scale production.

Deputy Chen Baoshan, a sugarcane expert and professor from Guangxi University, expressed his hope that the government will give more policy support to raise competitiveness of the sugarcane industry in Guangxi through technical innovation.

Premier Li said cane sugar is an important and irreplaceable material in food processing, and its production concerns the life of the general public and the overall development of the nation.

The government will continue to support the industry, Premier Li pledged, adding that all related parties should enhance the competitiveness of the industry with technical innovation.

"We should train more special talent, target weak links, and make breakthroughs in sugarcane research with no efforts spared," Premier Li said.

It may take three years, five years, or even eight years, but with solid steps ahead, difficulties should be solved in the industry, he stressed, adding that it is significant both to the people and the nation.