Inner Mongolian delegates of three ethnic groups (from left, Ewenki, Oroqen and Daur) have a heated discussion over the keynote report delivered by General Secretary Hu Jintao on Monday to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing. - Xinhua

Delegates to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) have vowed to carry out the Scientific Outlook on Development while seeking development in their respective fields.

"This (the outlook) was proposed at the right time to meet China's demands for maintaining sustained and stable economic growth," said Bai Enpei, a delegate from the southwestern border province of Yunnan, during a group discussion on Hu Jintao's report delivered to the congress on Monday.

Hu said in the report that the Scientific Outlook on Development was formulated to meet new requirements of development by analyzing China's own practice and drawing on the experience of other countries in development.

The Scientific Outlook on Development "takes development as its essence, putting people first as its core, comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development as its basic requirement, and overall consideration as its fundamental approach," said Hu.

Though underdeveloped, Yunnan Province boasts good ecology with ample wildlife resources, said Bai Enpei, Party chief in Yunnan. "We must be careful not to seek economic development at the cost of the environment."

The subtropical province receives 80 million tourists annually, bringing an annual tourism income of 60 billion yuan(US$7.7 billion). "There's still room for expansion, but we have to maintain harmony between man and nature," said Bai.

In a latest effort to seek a more scientific way of development, Bai said the hilly province will encourage farmers in 120 counties to grow walnuts instead of low-yield corn on hills. "The government will subsidize the farmers 450 yuan for each hectare of land."

Air China board chairman Li Jiaxiang said it is crucial to abandon conventional ways of thinking. "Everyone agrees we should adopt the Scientific Outlook on Development, but it's vital to put the words into practice."