Li Jian, an official from the Ministry of Science and Technology, expressed his view in an article published in the latest issue of Seeking Truth, a leading Chinese magazine.

During the 10th Five-Year Plan period (2001-2005), China will strengthen strategic studies in hi-tech fields so as to increase the country's abilities of independent innovation; accelerate the industrialization of hi-tech developments; and boost the development of traditional industries by the use of high technology, the official wrote.

The past 10 years have witnessed the fastest ever growth of the country's hi-tech sector, said Li, who is head of the department responsible for the development and popularization of hi-tech achievements in industry sector.

In the past decade, local scientists had made breakthroughs in a number of key technology areas, such as the successful projection into space of the experimental spacecraft, "Shenzhou"; the development of third-generation mobile telecommunications; and the development of the sub-marine robot that can work 6,000 meters below sea level.

High-tech companies, especially those in the telecommunications, information and biopharmaceutical industries, have become one of the new sources of state revenue.

Meanwhile, hi-tech has contributed to improving the country's industrial structure, and making local industries more competitive in the international market.

The past 10 years witnessed a boom in local high-tech firms, according to the official. Under the Program Torch, a national program specially for hi-tech development, China set up 53 state-level hi-tech parks which are home to 19,000 hi-tech companies.

In 2000, the 53 high-tech parks generated 886.4 billion yuan in total sales, turned out 768 billion yuan in industrial output, and earned US$22 billion in exports, up 23.6 percent, 22.6 percent and 45.9 percent, respectively.

For the past 10 years, China has developed a road with its own characteristics for developing hi-tech industries, the official wrote.

(People's Daily 04/03/2001)