China plans to become an innovative nation in the next 15 years and a world power in science and technology by the middle of the 21st century. The State Council issued guidelines in Beijing on Thursday on national medium- and long-term programs for science and technology development (2006-2020).

By 2020, investments in research and development are expected to be 2.5 percent of GDP, while progress in science and technology projects will contribute 60 percent to the country's development.

Meanwhile, the country's reliance on foreign technology will be reduced to 30 percent. The number of patents granted to Chinese nationals and international publication of academic works are expected to rank among the top five in the world.

The guidelines also set out the following objectives:

• Manufacturing and information industries are expected to master a number of core technologies that have a bearing on the country's national competitiveness, and are to aim for attaining world- class levels of competence.
• The agricultural science and technology sectors are to become one of the most advanced in the world so as to promote the comprehensive productive capabilities of agriculture and ensure food safety for the country, efficiently.
• There will be breakthroughs in energy exploration, energy-saving technology and clean energy technology, which would promote the structural optimization of energy, with energy consumption of major industrial products reaching or approaching world levels.
• Major industries and key cities will set up a technological development mode of recycled economy, providing scientific and technological support to the building of a resource-efficient and environment-friendly society.
• Remarkable improvement will be achieved in the prevention and control of major diseases and epidemics, with serious diseases like AIDS and hepatitis coming well under control. There are also to be breakthroughs in the development and manufacture of new pharmaceutical and medical equipment and apparatus, with sufficient technological capabilities for industrialization.
• The development of defense technology will be able to meet the fundamental demands of self-reliant research and development of modern weapons and informationization for the Army.
• A large number of world-class scientists and research teams will emerge in the country, who will be able to make a number of innovative achievements of great importance in mainstream academic research, particularly in cutting-edge technologies in the fields of information, biology, materials and space.
• There will emerge a couple of world-class research institutions and universities as well as internationally competitive research and development centers owned by companies, which will form a relatively complete innovation system with Chinese characteristics.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2006)