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Summary

2001-01-01

    Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the rank of Chinese scientists and technicians has grown steadily, and scientific research and technology development institutes have developed rapidly, with a host of research findings. By the end of 1997, China had 1.666 million scientists and engineers ranking first in the world.

    By the end of 1998, China's state-owned enterprises and institutions had 20.9134 million engineers and technicians, 49 times that of the 1952 figure, 4.8 times that of the 1978 figure, increasing at an average annual rate of 418,000. There were 2,374.2 engineers and technicians for every 10,000 workers and staff members.

    By the end of 1998, China had 22,549 scientific research institutes, including 5,778 research and development institutes above the county level employing 935,000 people specializing in scientific research. Universities and colleges have 1,487 research and development institutes for science and engineering, industry, agriculture and medicine to form a complete scientific research system.

    Before China initiated the reform and opening-up drive, it had developed a number of sophisticated techniques. Included were the research findings represented by atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs and satellites, as well as artificial synthetic crystallinebovine insulin. More scientific research findings have been achieved since it initiated the reform and opening-up drive. During the 1978-1998 period, China succeeded in launching 51 satellites. The successful launch of a return satellite made China the third country in the world after the United States and the former Soviet Unions in mastering the technology of retrieving satellites. In 1981, it succeeded in launching three satellites with one carrier rocket, thus becoming the fourth country in the world after the former Soviet Union, the United States and France in mastering the technology of launching many satellites with one carrier rocket. In addition, it successfully launched a missile from below the water. It also mastered the key technology of high-temperature air-cooled reactor and fast neutron breeder. It developed a positron-electron collider in Beijing and a five-megawatt low temperature nuclear reactor; and put the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant into operation. China's atom-control technology and atom-processing technology rank among the most advanced in the world. China took the lead in cultivating transgenosis hybrid rice; and made a breakthrough in research into manometer electronics super-high density information storing technology. It also has developed the "Galactic-III" computer capable of making 10 billion calculations per second. Chinese-built submarine robot completed a survey of the oceanic bed at a depth of 6,000 meters. Chinese scientists invented hepatitis B gene engineering vaccine and single clonic antibody technology for clinic treatment. The achievement of these research findings has marked the fact that China's atomic energy technology, space technology, high-energy physics, bio-technology, computer technology and information technology have met and approached advanced international standards.

    By the end of 1996, China had organized the implementation of the following ten major scientific programs:

    -- The Programs to Solve Scientific Problems, a state plan to tackle scientific problems, which began to be implemented in 1983;
    -- The Spark Program, China's first scientific plan for rural development in the 1980s, which began to be launched in 1986;
    -- The High-Tech Research Development Program, also called the "863" Program, which was put forward by four scientists in March of 1986;
    -- The Good-Harvest Program, also called the "Farm, Animal Husbandry and Fishery Good-Harvest Program," which was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1987;
    -- The Torch Program, a high-tech industrial development plan carried out by the State Science and Technology Commission in August of 1988;
    -- the Basic Research Program, a plan with guidance as the mainstay and mandatory quotas as the supplement, which was drawn up by the State Science and Technology Commission in 1982;
    -- the Prairie Fire Program, a plan launched in 1989 based on the Torch Program, which was organized by the State Commission of Education for the Good-Harvest Program to train agro-technicians and lay the foundation for development;
    -- The Program to Promote the State Scientific Research Findings, which began in 1990 to create a sound environment and good conditions for the shift of scientific research findings to production;
    -- The Scaling Program, a basic state research plan combining guidance with mandatory quotas during the 1991-95 period, which began in July 1992; and
    -- The Hundred People Program, which was launched by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1994 to train and select cross-century leaders in academic subjects.

    Since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have formulated a series of principles and policies regarding scientific and technological work. The "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Reform of the Scientific and Technological System" was promulgated on March 13, 1985. The "Law of the People's Republic of China on Technology" that came into force on November 1, 1987, is an important law to standardize deals on China's technology markets in an all-round way and promote the commercialization of research findings. The "Middle- and Long Term State Program for the Development of Science and Technology" was released in 1991. On July 2, 1993, the National People's Congress approved the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Scientific and Technological Progress," a basic law to guide and promote the development of the scientific and technological undertaking in the new period. The local legislation on science and technology has become an important component of China's legislation on science and technology. By the end of 1994, a dozen provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions had formulated local regulations on scientific and technological progress in accordance with the "Law on Scientific and Technological Progress." The "Law of the People's Republic of China on Promoting the Conversion of Scientific and Technological Findings into Productivity" was adopted by the 19th session of the eighth National People's Congress in May of 1996 and took effect on October 1, 1996. On May 23, 1999, the State Council issued the "State Regulations on Rewards for Science and Technology." In January of 2000, the Ministry of Science and Technology released No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 orders to standardize rewards for science by the state, provincial authorities, central departments and the society, in a bid to prevent the lack of authority and unwarranted distribution of rewards for scientific and technological findings. The No. 1 Order, titled the "Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the State Regulations on Rewards for Science and Technology." The No.2 Order, titled the "Procedures on Managing Rewards for Science and Technology at the Provincial and Ministerial Level." The No. 3 Order, titled the "Procedures on Managing Rewards for Science and Technology by Social Forces."

    To increase ties in basic research between China and other countries, the Science Fund has designated five types of international exchange projects including the international cooperative study; set up special funds for Chinese scholars abroad who return home to work or give lectures for a short period of time and participated in a number of inter-governmental cooperative projects. So far, China has established science and technology cooperative relations with 150 countries and regions, and concluded governmental agreements on economic and technological cooperation with about 100 countries and regions. Non-governmental international cooperation and exchanges in science and technology are becoming more active. The China Association for Science and Technology and its subsidiaries have joined 244 international science and technology organizations. The China National Natural Science Fund has concluded cooperative agreements and memorandums with science foundations of 36 countries.

    Technology import is a major component of China's opening to the outside world. It has advanced the development of China's scientific and technology, promoted technological progress in various industries, shortened the technical gap between China and the rest of the world, pushed forward technological upgrading in enterprises, and improved economic returns and social effects. Through technology import, China has trained a large number of technicians and managerial staff, strengthened its technical force, and advanced the improvement of its technical and managerial standards. Technology import has also improved the competitive edge of Chinese goods for export, thus increasing its foreign exchange incomes.

    China's technology import focused on new and sophisticated technology at the end of the century. In 1998, high-tech projects accounted for a quarter of its total technology and equipment imports, an increase of 150 percent over the previous year. The ratio of value of software imports rose from 10 percent five years ago to 25 percent. By the end of 1998, China had imported 28,000 items of foreign technology with contractual investment totaling 111.379 billion US dollars.

    Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics show that the state has continued to increase inputs in science and technology to ensure the steady development of the scientific and technological sector. The state financial allocations to the sector came to 46.65 billion yuan in 1998, 8.8 times that of 1978. In 1998, the operating expenditure on science and technology amounted to 117.7 billion yuan, and that on research and development came to 52.6 billion yuan, 0.6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Since the reform of the scientific and technological system began, the proportion of the government budgetary allotment in the total revenue has shown a tendency toward decrease in the main. In 1997, the government allotment for research and development institutes accounted for 36.2 percent of their total income. Also in 1997, 46.4 percent of China's 24,000 large and medium-sized industrial enterprises set up research and development institutes, and 5,700 established foundations for technological development. The expenses for technological development accounted for 1.2 percent of the turnover. In 1998, the turnover of technology markets nationwide climbed to 43 billion yuan.
    On February 10, 1998, the State Science and Technology Commission held a press conference in Beijing to release the statistics of China's major scientific research findings. This was the first of its kind ever held since the founding of the Republic of People's Republic. According to the conference, such a release would be available once a year in the future. Statistics show that China had 30,566 major scientific research findings in 1997. Of this, 12,143 were awarded by the provinces and ministries, and 626 by the state. Of the 30,566 research findings, 2,727 dealt with the basic theory, 26,244 were in the applied technology area, and 1,595 were involved in the soft science area. Altogether 783 of them met most advanced international standards and 4,484 advanced international standards. China ranked 11th in the world in the number of academic papers released. It accepted 114,000 Chinese and foreign patent applications and granted 51,000 patents. In 1998, there were 28,000 major science and technology findings at the national level, 72 state rewards for inventions and 471 state rewards for scientific and technological progress.

    According to the data from the National Bureau of Statistics, since China initiated the reform and opening-up drive 20 years ago, its has accelerated the reform of scientific and technological system, advancing the all-round development of the scientific and technological undertaking and enhancing the strength of its science and technology sector. Since the 1980s, China has organized scientific activities at different levels. During the 1981-95 period, it achieved 73,000 scientific research findings, 35 percent of which met advanced international standards, and 36 percent, most advanced domestic standards. Some 40 percent of them have been applied to social, economic and productive areas, with direct economic returns totaling 112.7 billion yuan. To meet the challenge posed by the world's new technology revolution, China drew up the "Program for High-Tech Research and Development" in 1986 and decided to make breakthroughs in seven spheres, i.e., biology, space technology, information, laser, automation, energy development and new materials. It has achieved 1,200 research findings, 540 of which met international standards, and 30 were used in the national economy. To industrialize research findings, China began to adopt the "Torch Program" in 1987. By the end of that year, it had launched 3,533 "Torch Program" projects at the national level, which had generated industrial output worth 409.1 billion yuan. Meanwhile, its scientific research findings were noticeable. During the 1981-1997 period, it scored 436,000 key scientific research findings, 74,000 of which met advanced international standards, accounting for 19 percent of the total, as well as 350,000 applied scientific research findings, accounting for 80 percent.

    In 1998, China made rapid progress in research into basic science. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, the key force of China's basic research, began to carry out a knowledge innovation project and started 12 experiments. The Ministry of Science and Technology organized the work to choose the first group of priority state projects for basic research and development and planning. It selected 15 projects and ten projects for cultivation from 207 proposed projects. The ministry organized the study of the soft subject, the "Layout and Planning of Key State Laboratories." Great progress has been made in undertaking key state science projects, with the six approved projects in smooth operation. Of this, the "China Crystal Movement Observation Network", whose benchmark network connected 81 stations in the open ground for the first time, enabling them to make observations simultaneously and instantly. The collected data are being analyzed, and the data center has got on-line. The undertaking of key agricultural projects and the "continent drilling" project is under way.

    In October of 1999, according to statistics of China's papers on science and technology, there were more findings in basic research into natural science in 1998. The statistical work was done by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the China Science and Technology Information Research Institute. International data came from three influential indexing tools of the United States: SCI, EI and ISTP, and domestic data came directly from major Chinese science journals.
    According to the statistics from international papers, China's scientists issued 35,003 papers on the three indexing systems in 1998, 2.46 percent of the total of the systems and ranking ninth in the world. The Chinese scientists and technicians issued 133,341 papers on 1,286 science journals in 1998, up 3.8 percent over 1997. Overseas scientists issued 630 papers on domestic journals. The quality of science journals has been improved. The SCI has included 11 more types of Chinese journals. International cooperation between Chinese researchers and foreign writers has increased substantially. The SCT has included 11,456 papers written first by Chinese, with 36.3 percent written together with foreign researchers. These papers involved 7,534 writers worldwide from 92 countries and regions.

    At 6:30 on November 20, 1999, China launched the "Shenzhou" Spaceship, the first manned experimental spaceship with a new Long March carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center. After completing the space flying experiment, the spaceship landed in the central part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 3:41on November 21.

    The manned space technology is regarded as the most difficult technology in the space area. Previously, only the United States and Russia had mastered the technology. The manned space technology is considered another milestone in China's space history, and its launch and recovery has marked the breakthrough of China's manned space technology. The experimental spaceship and carrier rocket were made by Chinese themselves. According to an official in charge of the manned space project, the development of manned space technology marked the new era that the mankind is able to enter the space. The manned space flight is a high-tech field with which the international space community is concerned. The development of manned space flight technology by China is of great significance to promoting scientific progress, enhancing the comprehensive national strength and national defense, and increasing the sense of pride and cohesion of the Chinese nation.

    While mastering the technology of launching, measuring and controlling the perigee return satellite, the earth synchronous orbit satellite and the solar synchronous orbit satellite, China began to study the manned space technology. Based on assessing the technology and economic feasibility of the projects, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China headed by Comrade Jiang Zemin made a policy decision in 1992 to launch the manned space project. The project is a massive systems project and represents the crystallization of cooperation of various industries across the country. The success in the flight experiments marks an important step in the development of China's manned space undertaking.

    An official in charge of China's space project said that the success in the experimental flight of China's manned space p4oj3d5 has shown once again that the Chinese people are fully able to take up a seat in the world high-tech area by independently developing sophisticated technology. The official noted that the peaceful development and use of space to benefit mankind is a consistent stand of the Chinese government in developing the space industry. Chinese scientists will sum up and analyze result from the experiment. Based on the improvement of different systems plans, they will conduct a number of unmanned flight experiments, so as to eventually make a historical breakthrough in manned space flight.


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