BEIJING, May 14 -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has stressed the need for better prevention and cure of major diseases such as cancer, and more timely tackling of related key problems.

She asked for more innovation in key technologies on prevention and cure work to provide strong support to improve people's well-being and implementation of the Healthy China initiative.

Sun, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks Monday during an inspection tour to several of China's major medical research institutions.

At the National Cancer Institute, she underlined the key role of prevention, calling for promotion of health knowledge to guide the public to eradicate lifestyles that can lead to cancer.

"More attention should be put on examination and treatment at earlier stages, and the prevention and service system should be enhanced to lower morbidity and raise the life quality of patients," Sun said.

At the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), she highlighted the sci-tech innovation project in medical and health care, and called for further research into common chronic and refractory diseases, including cardiovascular and immunological diseases.

She also asked for the expansion of international cooperation, and the training and introduction of more high-quality talent to build the CAMS into a core base of China's medical sci-tech innovation system.