China's State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) announced here Saturday that China would invite domestic as well as overseas research and consultative institutions to participate in the planning for the economic and social development.

The SDRC will conduct a series of research projects on issues relating to the making of the next five-year plan, or the 11th five-year plan, and some of these research projects would be open to qualified social research and consultative institutions at home and abroad, said Yang Weimin, director of the development planning department of SDRC.

Overseas institutions will be treated equally with their Chinese counterparts in the bidding and no special restrictions would be placed on them, Yang said.

China used to designate institutions to carry out research projects. The open bidding will offer opportunities for social institutions to take part in the national decision-making process and their participation would also help increase the transparency of the process, Yang added.

Not all projects would be planned in a span of five years, said Yang, and those involving such sectors as education, energy, and environment protection could cover about 10 or 20 years.

According to the information from the SDRC, the researches would center on the comprehensive development of a "Xiaokang society," or a relatively affluent society, solutions to China's regional imbalance in development, and establishment of a new development concept.

The institutions interested in the bidding can visit www.dp.cei.gov.cn for information about various research projects or download application forms.

All applications should be posted to the development planning department of SDRC or e-mailed to ghs02@mx.cei.gov.cn before Oct. 30.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2003)