PM Hasina stresses 'science diplomacy' for sustainable growth at Vienna conference

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasised 'science diplomacy' to ensure economic growth through innovations and knowledge sharing.

Her remarks came on Tuesday while addressing a conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA marking its 60 years.

"We have devised science diplomacy to ensure partnership for sustainable economic development through knowledge generation and sharing," the prime minister told the conference in the Austrian capital.

Leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and the Caribbean joined the summit, 'International Conference on the Technical Cooperation Programme: Sixty Years and Beyond -- Contributing to Development'.

At the very beginning of her speech, Hasina lauded IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano for his leadership and the efforts to promote a peaceful use of nuclear energy.

"The IAEA holds a special place in Bangladesh’s development and energy security," she told the inaugural session of the conference.

Bangladesh became a member of the IAEA in 1972. The prime minister’s late husband Dr MA Wazed Miah, a nuclear scientist, played a key role in getting the membership.

"I thank IAEA for its support to Bangladesh in its development over the last 45 years," said Hasina.

She said that with an economic growth rate of 7.24 percent this year, Bangladesh is now regarded as a model for socioeconomic development.

"Science, technology and innovation played a major role in our achievement. A group of Bangladeshi scientists deciphered the complete genetic code of jute with a great success."

Bangladesh aims to make a 'full use' of technological innovation to become digitised, according to Hasina.

"In our national science and technology policy and the seventh five-year plan from 2016 to 2021, we have focused on finding solutions to the emerging problems in agriculture, food, health, environment and climate change through application of science and technology."

Touching on the Russia-supported Rooppur nuclear plant, Hasina said Bangladesh considers nuclear energy as safe, environment-friendly and an economically viable source of power.

The plant will produce 2,400 megawatts of electricity by two reactors. "Our aim is to generate at least 4,000MW from nuclear source by 2030."

After the inaugural session, Hasina had a meeting with IAEA chief Amano.

During her two-day official visit, the prime minister is scheduled to meet Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Christian Kern.