China Science & Technology Digest:
May 15-31, 2004

ATIP

This digest summarizes S&T-related articles that appeared in the media ATIP monitored in the second half of May 2004. Some articles reference a relevant website to assist readers in obtaining further information. For questions or to request additional information, please send email to ChinaST@atip.or.jp. The exchange rate used for this issue is RMB8.287 against the U.S. dollar.

Xu Guanhua Outlines 6 Goals for the Development of Science and Technology
Xu Guanhua, the minister of China’s Science and Technology Department, has outlined six goals for the development of China’s science and technology industry over the next 15 years:
1. To create a society that uses resources efficiently and is environmentally friendly through the assistance of science and technology.
2. To enact agricultural science and technology reforms to ensure the safety of grain production and to increase agricultural income.
3. To strengthen IT in the civilian economy to enable increased competitiveness and ensure long-term growth.
4. To decrease disparities in knowledge and information between regions in order to balance economic growth.
5. To strengthen national defense and science and technology in the public sector.
6. To grow from a country of high population into a nation rich in human capital resources.
In order to reach these goals, science and technology will move from emulation to creation, and from individual projects to group creativity to industrialize research.
Source: Xinhuanews 05/21/2004

China to Launch Space Station in 15 Years
China will strive to build its own space station over the next 15 years. China has invested 18 billion yuan (approx. US 2.18 billion) in its manned space program over the past 11 years, far less than originally expected. Under this program, China is to construct a permanent manned space station, which will take about 15 years to complete. Due to financial reasons, China's lunar probe will not send an astronaut to the moon, but will instead launch a satellite which orbits the moon.
Source: China Daily 17/19/2004

China Completes Designs for Lunar Orbiting Project
China has completed the design of instruments and procedures for its lunar orbiting project, the first phase of its moon probing project. It is said that besides moon probes, China is likely to place a seismograph on the moon.
Source: China Daily 17/30/2004

National Nanotechnology Center Appoints Principal Investigator
China's National Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology has appointed Xie Sishen as its principal investigator. Xie, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), is considered one of the country's best nanoscientists. Additionally, the center recognized Wang Zhaozhong, Zhu Xing, Jiang Lei, and Xue Qikun as four leading scientists. The Nanotechnology Committee of the China National Accreditation Board for Laboratories has also been established in Beijing.
Source: Xinhua News agency 05/20/2004

Drought-Resistant Hybrid Rice Strain Developed
Agricultural scientists in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have developed a new strain of drought-resistant, high-yield hybrid rice following over ten years of research. The strain has been planted experimentally in the dry areas of Guangxi for several years. The results show that the hybrid rice has high resistance to drought, diseases, and cold weather. More importantly, the per-hectare yield of the new strain could reach 6,000 kilograms, double that of the normal strains which are widely planted in Guangxi.
Source: China Daily 28/26/2004

Hong Kong & Mainland China to Boost Scientific Exchange
Hong Kong and Mainland China are to establish an effective framework for science and technology cooperation. Collaborations will be formed in various areas and projects. A committee made up of senior representatives or officials from both sides will organize and co-ordinate technology exchange and collaboration activities. The committee will meet at least once a year, and may organize workgroups in the proposed areas of co-operation. Both sides will strengthen ties in a number of technology areas, such as IT, electronics, biotechnology, new materials, advanced manufacturing, environmental protection, and Chinese medicine.
Source: Xinhuanews Agency 05/17/2004

Sino-German Program on Inner Mongolia Grassland Launched
Scientists from China and Germany have begun their five-year, multi-disciplinary program on the changes in the biological environment of the Inner Mongolia Grassland in North China. According to the program, with funding of nearly 3 million euros (approx. US 3.6 million), experts from leading research organizations from the two countries will probe the causes of the degradation of the country's major grassland from soil, botanical, zoological, climatic, agronomic, and other perspectives.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 05/22/2004

Hyforum 2004 held in Beijing
An international forum on developing hydrogen energy, "Hyforum 2004", was held in Beijing from May 25 to 28, 2004. It was accompanied by an exhibition of the latest technologies applying hydrogen energy. The forum, supported by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, the China Association for Science and Technology, and the International Association for Hydrogen Energy was attended by government officials, scientists, investors, and business people.
Source: Xinhuanews Agency 05/21/2004

IPHE Policy Guiding Committee Convened
The International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) organized the second session of its policy guiding committee from May 26 to 28 in Beijing. The first sessions of the IPHE policy guiding committee and executive and liaison committee were held in November 2003 in Washington, D.C. The second session of the policy guiding committee heard a report from the executive committee and discussed future research plans and cooperation among the founding members.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 05/25/2004

E-Governance Conference to be Held in Beijing in August
The Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Information Industry, will hold an electronic governance technologies and application conference from August 3 to 5 in Beijing. eGovChina 2004 will include forums, symposia, an exhibition, and other events. It is estimated that China has an e-governance-related market valued at 40 billion yuan (approx. US 4.8 billion), including 14 billion yuan (approx. US 1.7 billion) worth of software products and service. For more information about this conference, please go to: http://www.egovchina.org
Source: Xinhua News Agency 05/26/2004

Luxury Electric Bus Developed in Beijing
A luxury double-decker electric bus capable of running at least 150 kilometers on one charge has been developed in Beijing. The bus is one of the seven types of electric buses developed by Beijing BIT Clean EV Co., Ltd., which has been commissioned by the government to develop environment-friendly electric vehicles for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 05/29/2004

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