Zhu made the remarks at the closing session of a three-day national conference on science and technology held in Beijing. She said industrialization and practical application of scientific discoveries is important if the country wants to continue developing its economy. China is looking to make major breakthroughs in the fields of information technology, biology, new materials, advanced manufacturing techniques and space technology in the next five years, Zhu said.

Xu Guanhua, vice minister of science and technology, told the meeting that Chinese government will create a more favorable environment for the rapid and sound growth of high-tech ventures, especially those medium and small-sized companies that tend to drive innovation.

The vice minister added that the government will speed up the construction of state-level high-tech development zones in addition to restructuring the current high-tech zones to increase their efficiency.

Xu revealed that the government is looking to turn these zones into world class science parks as quickly as possible, so as to open the door for scientific and technological innovation.

The government will also encourage the establishment of centers for building high-tech ventures and agencies for promoting the industrialization of science discoveries, he added.

Xu cited foreign examples in pointing out that outstanding personnel play an indispensable role in the building of high-tech ventures. He claimed the country will issue more favorable policies to attract the sort of experts and employees necessary to build a strong and lively high-tech sector.

Also at Wednesday's closing session of the conference, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced that 35 Chinese high-tech ventures have been selected as the second group of state-level companies that will be responsible for the application and industrialization of high-tech discoveries.

An official from the ministry said North China Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, Tsinghua Unisplendour Corporation Ltd, HiSense Group and Shenzhen Sangxia Computer & Human Intelligence Development Corporation were among the 35 Of these ventures, most are information, biology, automation and new material technology related. So far, China has identified a total of 51 such companies.

(Xinhua 11/01/2000)