The State's highest economic-planning and science authorities Wednesday unveiled a new market-tailored national high-tech development guideline to channel resources and investment into certain sectors.

The instruction was jointly issued by the State Development Planning Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology and is aimed at increasing the contribution of advanced technology to the State's overall economic growth and export performance.

It is predicted that advanced technology will account for about 6 per cent of China's gross domestic product in 2005. Official statistics indicate that the proportion was 4 per cent last year.

The plan aims to have high-tech products account for 25 per cent of the State's total industrial export volume in 2005, compared to 14.9 per cent last year.

Commission officials said that the State should make it a priority to expand 10 industries in the next few years, including advanced energy systems, genetic engineering, information technology and modern transportation.

Altogether, 141 favoured sectors from the 10 industries will be listed on the revised guideline. The State published a similar guideline in 1999, aimed at overcoming difficulties in China's economic structure.

The new guideline details how each industry covered should be developed. For instance, in the information-technology industry, the State will particularly encourage the development of Internet equipment, satellite telecommunications and computer components.

Ma Dexiu, a director at the commission's Department for the Development of High-Tech Industry, said: "The developing priorities are expected to have great market potential and benefit the whole nation economically and environmentally.''

Ma said the commission is responsible for restructuring the country's industries to speed up the application of scientific research results.

"At present, a big problem facing us is that low value-added and low-tech products are oversupplied but many high-tech achievements,'' Ma said.

"Our governmental guideline will act as a link connecting researchers, investors, manufacturers and consumers,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the State has invested 60 billion yuan (US$7.2 billion) in over 600 high-tech projects since 1999.

According to Ma, the State will continue to earmark more capital to develop key high-tech projects, which are expected to be the backbone of the State's economic development.

(China Daily December 13, 2001 )