Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday stressed that ecological environment must be protected and education improved while developing the poverty-stricken northwestern province of Gansu.

Wen made the remarks while joining a panel discussion on his government work report with Gansu deputies to the National People's Congress, the top legislature.

He also said that agriculture should not be ignored, and conventional industries should be boosted in Gansu's development.

Wen had worked for years in Gansu, where a number of ethnic minority regions are still underdeveloped.

"We must increase policy support for those regions and change the situation with strong measures," he told the deputies.