China has accredited its first group of 121 national defense laboratories for standardized measures and tests for aerospace, aeronautics and nuclear technologies as well as dual technologies.

These accredited labs include those from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China National Nuclear Corporation, and China State Shipping Building Corporation, according to the Science and Technology Daily.

The move is aimed to strengthen the national defense industry and develop dual technologies for both military and civilian use, said Wu Weiren, a senior official with the State Commission of Science and Technology for National Defense Industry, quoted by the newspaper.

The accreditation authorities will keep an eye on the management of the accredited laboratories to ensure that they can meet higher requirements for research and development, Wu said.

The labs would be deprived of the accreditation once they are found to have their management and technological capacity weakened, he added.

The accreditation system for national defense labs, which is prevailing in developed countries, was established in China in April 2004. So far, a total of 186 labs in the country have applied for the accreditation.
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2006)