Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing called for popular science promoters nationwide to explore new ways of spreading scientific and technological knowledge among the public.
Speaking to the Second National Popular Science Conference which opened here Wednesday, Li said that the level of public awareness of scientific and technological knowledge will be the final determinant of a nation's productive forces and cultural development in the 21st century, in which the advancement of science and technology is on a fast track.
The vice premier noted that the promulgation of the law on popular science last June was a landmark in China's popular science work and represented a step forward in the promotion of popular science campaign in the country.
Li also urged Party and government officials of various levels to take the lead in promoting science and to give budgetary priority to the popularization of scientific and technological knowledge among the public. The Conference was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the China Association for Science and Technology.
(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2002)
