Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday underscored the role of science and technology in promoting the country's sustainable development and weathering the global downturn.

Addressing the science and technology community in Beijing, Wen said China should be built into an innovation-oriented country and neo-strategic industries should become the leading force in promoting the social and economic development.

He called on scientists to boost research in such neo-strategic industries as the new energy industry, information networking industry, micro-electronics and nanotechnology, life science as well space and ocean exploration.

He said those emerging strategic industries would play a key role in building up an innovation-driven economy and promote a comprehensive sustainable development.

Wen said the world was experiencing a once-in-a-century financial crisis and human history has proved that technological revolution often occurred during economic crisis.

Any country that could take the initiative in making technological breakthroughs would take the lead in economic recovery, he said.

Wen also urged scientists to pay more attention to fundamental researches and high-tech researches and be innovative.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2009)