China highlighted its achievements in the science and technology fields Thursday during the grand celebrations of the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic.

A float representing the high-tech sector pulled into the Tian'anmen Square in the heart of Beijing, carrying a large television screen that showcased the country's progress in science and technology.

Wan Gang, minister of science and technology, told Xinhua that if China wanted to bottom out from the global financial crisis smoothly, the country should endeavor to make breakthroughs in key fronts of the science and technology sector including new energy, biotechnology, information and others.

Early last month, Premier Wen Jiabao described technological innovation as "an important pillar" of the country's development.

China would make greater efforts to develop new industries of strategic importance, Wen said when addressing the 2009 Summer Davos forum in Dalian, northeast Liaoning Province.

"To overcome the severe international financial crisis, we must rely more on science and technology in making breakthroughs and boosting development," said Wen.

China's research and development spending stood at 457 billion yuan (66.9 billion U.S. dollars) in 2008, an increase of 23.2 percent from the previous year, accounting for 1.52 percent of the annual GDP.

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