Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju said in Shanghai Wednesday that worldwide engineers should cooperate with each other to contribute more to sustained development of the human society.

At the opening ceremony of the 2004 World Engineers' Convention(WEC), Huang said it is a common responsibility for engineers to create a better world for the people.

Combined with science, technology and other fruits resulting from human intelligence, engineering and technologies are playing a vital role in pushing forward economic and social advancement, Huang said.

Faced with new opportunities and challenges in the 21st century,Huang said, engineers should shoulder more responsibility in safeguarding world peace and realizing common prosperity.

Developing countries need help to strengthen science, technology and engineering capability, Huang said. Continuous development of science and technology in developing countries willcontribute to narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor.

Resources-saving and environment-friendly technologies are encouraged to realize harmonious coexistence between the nature and the human society, Huang said.

China should revitalize the nation through science and technology and education, pay great attention to save natural resources and protect environment and ecology, and also train a good number of excellent engineers and technologists, Huang said.

Huang said China will constantly enhance exchange and cooperation with the international engineering community and try all out to keep up with the latest developments in world engineering.

Before the opening ceremony, Huang met with Lee Yee-Cheong, president of the World Federation of Engineering Organization (WFEO), and other leaders of international or foreign organizations.

About 3,000 engineers and representatives from international organizations participated in the three-day convention with a theme of "Engineers shape the sustainable future."

Source: Xinhua