Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung has affirmed the role of science and technology sector in the national socio-economic development.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the 50 th founding anniversary of the Ministry of Science and Technology in Hanoi on Jan. 10, Deputy PM Hung said that the Party and State always consider science and technology together with education and training as a top priority, a motive force for national socio-economic development and a necessity for maintaining national independence and successfully building socialism.

National industrialisation and modernisation must be implemented by and based on science and technology, he said, adding that science and technology has become a direct production force in the national economy

The Deputy PM urged the science and technology sector to forecast well the development of science and technology in and outside the country and join the science and social humanities to search for solutions to the nation’s challenges.

The sector should develop its researches and apply them in production, he said.

On this occasion, the ministry was bestowed with the Gold Star Order, the State’s highest distinction, in recognition of its outstanding achievements in helping the Party and State to manage science and technology activities as well as its important contributions to national construction and defence./.