Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan paid a visit to the national center for basic geographic information center, in Beijing, last Thursday, to discuss the country's strategy on the development of measuring work with experts and scholars.

During his visit, Zeng heard reports on the development of the sector by academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Li Deren, Chen Junyong and Gao Jun.

Zeng said the measuring sector is of great importance for China's economic and social development, national security, people's life, and the goal for achieving a sustainable development in the country.

Over the past decades, China's measuring sector has developed rapidly as systems have been established for standardization, technology and law of measuring work, Zeng said. He urged Chinese scientists to learn from developed countries and increase the level and capability of the country's measuring sector.

Efforts should be made to speed up the pace of automation and digitalization and build up networks in the measuring sector, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2005)