China's high-level arrangement for presenting the national science and technology award in the past two years highlights the unprecedented importance the central authorities attach to its science and technology development.

　　The five million-yuan State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, which is granted to no more than two outstanding scientistsannually, was presented to Wang Xuan, a computer technology professor and Huang Kun, a big name in solid state physics on Friday.

　　Last year, Wu Wenjun, a mathematician, and Yuan Longping, a hybrid-rice expert won the prize. It was the first time that Chinagranted the highest award to its scientists and technologists.

　　Head of the State Science and Technology Awards Office Huang Yingda said that according to the award guidelines, 4.5 million yuan of the five-million yuan prize will be earmarked for researchuse and the remaining half a million will be put at the winner's disposal.

　　Winners of the first and second prize of the State Natural Science Award will get 90 thousand yuan and 60 thousand yuan respectively, as will the winners of the State Technological Invention Award and the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award.

　　China has followed a policy of awarding scientists and technologists for the past 50 years.

　　In 1955, the State Council issued an ordinance stipulating thatthe class-one prize for the science award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) should be ten thousand yuan. Altogether 34 research programs won the award in 1956.

　　In November 1963, the State Council promulgated another two statutes on invention and technological innovation. As of May 1966,297 inventions were awarded, including significant programs such as the atomic bomb, the hydrogen bomb, and artificial insulin.

　　The year 1978 saw the historical convening of the National Science Congress. After more than ten years' discontinuity, a total of 7657 programs were awarded.

　　The state science and technology award system underwent significant reforms in 1999. According to the new regulation issued by Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, five awards were set up: theState Preeminent Science and Technology Award; the State Natural Science Award; the State Technological Invention Award; the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, and the InternationalScientific and Technological Award.

　　Over the past 50 years, China has granted awards to some 20 thousand significant scientific and technological programs. More than 60 thousand people, including 18 foreigners, were presented with the state science and technology award from 1979-1999.