Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu Sunday encouraged the country's meteorologists to improve weather forecasting ability to better serve the country's social and economic development.

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Weather forecasting is important in carrying out disaster relief, safeguarding people's life and property security, boosting social and economic development, and coping with global climate change, Hui said when visiting the MeteoWorld Pavilion in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo park.

He urged meteorologists to resort to scientific innovation to constantly improve weather services.

The MeteoWorld Pavilion, built with a white membrane structure, was jointly built by the United Nation's World Meteorological Organization and the China Meteorological Administration. It is the first independent meteorological pavilion in the World Expo history.

Shanghai Party chief Yu Zhengsheng joined Hui in visiting the pavilion.