Vice-Premier Calls for Greater Role for Science Museums 　　Vice-Premier Li Lanqing called for accelerated efforts on February 22 to provide outstanding students with scientific and technological training in order to meet the demands of the country's rapid development. 　　Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during a morning visit to the China Science and Technology Museum. 　　"It is imperative to train outstanding students to join the campaign to invigorate the nations by developing science and technology," said Li. 　　He said efforts should also be made to promote the nation's scientific and cultural achievements. 　　Students represent the reserve force for the future, and the use of the nation's science and technology museums should be expanded to develop creative thinking, Li added. 　　The vice-premier said that various scientific and technological centers and museums form the infrastructure for the strategy to invigorate the nation through the development of science and technology. He noted that related institutions have played an important role in popularizing basic scientific and technological knowledge and promoting the general public's awareness of science. 　　The institutions should serve as venues to provide extracurricular scientific and technological education, said Li. 　　The China Science and Technology Museum, a 20,000-square-meter facility located in north Beijing, has hosted over 4 million visitors since its founding in 1988. Students have accounted for the vast majority of people visiting the facility. 　　Director of the museum Li Xiangyi said plans call for the museum to eventually cover 65,000 square meters. He noted that a modern exhibition center covering 20,000 square meters. is scheduled to open in the year 2000. 　　The museum features exhibits ranging from ancient Chinese to modern science and technology, as well as the ecology and telecommunications. HomeNews 1999-02-23 Page1 Full Story in Chinese