Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for scientific and democratic procedures when working out along-term plan for the country's science and technology development.
A forum convened in Beijing between June 23-25 named the plan as one of the major tasks for the Party and the government of this term and a major event for the country's science community.
"The decision making must be scientific and democratic," Wen said.
Wen is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau and head of a leading group on the national planning for the development of science and technology.
State-Councilor Chen Zhili attended the forum on the study of strategies on planning. In an address to the meeting, Chen urged the planners to bring democracy into full play and encourage debates.
Almost 100 top Chinese scientists, scholars and experts are participating in the discussion on the national plan.
(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2003)
