LUSAKA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and other African countries should emulate China for investing in technology, innovation and research, an expert said on Friday.
Stephen Manchishi, a bio-scientist, said China's investment in technology, innovation and research has helped to lift millions of its citizens out of poverty.
The expert, who is also Next Einstein Forum ambassador, said China's long history of science and dedication to innovation has made the Asian nation a giant economic nation in the world.
China, he said, has not only invested in education generally but specifically in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as research and development, which other developing countries in Africa should emulate.
According to him, such investment has resulted in a huge chunk of novel research output in major peer review journals currently coming out of China.
"Much of the ingenuity and technological output seen in China today is as a result of investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and education," he said.
"Most of their education facilities are equipped with at least the basic science learning equipment that inspires curiosity and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics," he said.
Manchishi, who did his postgraduate studies in Biological Sciences at Northeast Normal University in China, said that over the decades, China has continued to increase its investment in education, with a corresponding growth in indigenous research, development and innovation.
According to him, the Chinese are competitive and innovative and are always in a state of competition to make life easier for themselves and the rest of the world.
"Having had the opportunity to live and work in China, I can attest to their innovation, hard work and dedication to produce results. This is taught to them at a young age," he said.
He implored Zambians to take a leaf from the Chinese work culture by being innovative and applying themselves fully.
Through the Juniors and Seniors Institute of Natural Sciences, an initiative he co-founded, Manchishi mentors young boys and girls, inspiring them to venture into science fields at a young age.
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