Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili on Friday asked officials in
local governments and various departments to highlight the
importance of science education in order to improve the nation's
scientific knowledge by 2020.
China's State Council in mid-March issued strategic guidelines,
outlining plans to boost Chinese people's knowledge of science from
2006 to 2020.
Chen, also head of a national science knowledge workshop,
chaired the workshop's first meeting on Friday.
"The guidelines are helpful in boosting the nation's innovation,
solving problems in the rural areas, and facilitating a sustainable
development of the whole society," Chen said.
While ordering leaders of various government departments to pay
close attention to implement the guidelines, Chen said it is
important to urge the public to actively participate in the
educational programs.
Schools and the media are also playing crucial roles, she
noted.
(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2006)
