Premier Wen Jiabao called for a push for scientific progress and the building of an innovation-oriented country at the Fourth National Conference on Science and Technology, which concluded in Beijing on Wednesday.

 

Wen said China's medium and long-term scientific and technological development program, recently issued by the State Council, was the country's first overall scientific and technological plan since the beginning of the new century, the first medium and long-term scientific program under the condition of the socialist market economy, and a schematic document for the country's scientific and technological development over the next 15 years.

 

During a plenary meeting on Monday, held during the conference, Wen said that the implementation of the medium and long-term scientific and technological development program is important to improving the country's competitive advantage.

 

Wen said China's development depends on two things: "Unswerving reform and opening-up, and scientific and technological progress and innovation."

 

He asked all departments concerned to carefully implement China's medium and long-term scientific and technological development program, to unremittingly follow up the scientific conception of development and the strategies of rejuvenating the country through education and technology, and to push forward scientific and technological progress and innovation.

 

He said innovation was the soul of scientific and technological development and the driving force behind national development.

 

In a bid to push forward the country's scientific and technological development, five factors should be paid attention to.

 

First, technology development on energy conservation, water resources and environment protection should be given priority. Second, core technology and intellectual property rights in equipment manufacturing industry and information industry should be managed. Third, development of biological technology should be beefed up. Fourth, the development of space technology and maritime technology should be enhanced. Fifth, research on fundamental sciences and frontier sciences should be pushed forward.

 

Wen said to better implement the medium and long-term scientific and technological development program, reform of the country's scientific and technological system must be vigorously pushed forward. Strategies on how to make innovations should be stipulated and implemented. Investment in scientific and technological sections must be increased and the training of scientific and technological personnel should be strengthened.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2006)