Top Chinese leaders Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, Zeng Qinghong, Huang Ju and Li Changchun attended the awarding ceremony and presented the certificates to the awardees. Premier Wen addressed the conference on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, while Vice-Premier Huang presided over the gathering.

In his speech, Premier Wen said that in the contemporary world, science and technology are the decisive factor for the competitiveness of a country's comprehensive national power whereas self-reliant innovation constitutes the backbone that props up a nation. While introducing and studying advanced technology from the world over, China has to depend on its own innovation, he said.

"There is no way to buy core technology," Wen acknowledged.

The Chinese premier further underscored his viewpoint that China has to rely on science and technology innovation in order to resolve prominent problems in its economic and social development.

Moreover, Wen called for optimizing industrial layout, better using energy and resources, and protecting eco-environment.

Vice-Premier Huang Ju said in his speech, while presiding over the conference, the issuance of awards to scientists and technical personnel with huge contributions gives an eloquent proof of the high importance the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have attached to science and technological undertakings as well as cordial regards they have shown to science and technology personnel in the country.

At the conference, the Chinese government issued 28 second-grade awards for natural science, two first-grade awards for invention, 26 second-grade awards for invention, 16 first-grade prizes for progress in science and technology and 228 second-grade prizes for advancement in science and technology.

Among those innovations being celebrated was a new digital positioning system partly developed by the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

The system, which is more accurate than conventional radar, has been adopted by Air China and other major airlines.

Chief scientist on the project Zhang Jun said: "It's such an honour and exciting for me to know that, after 10 years of effort, it has paid off both in terms of the system's commercial application and in recognition from the central government and the general public."

The invention is key in making the increasingly busy skies safer for air traffic, Zhang's colleague, Jiang Zhiqiang, added.

Foreign scientists

As well as Chinese scientists, five foreign scientists were also honoured with State International Scientific Co-operation Awards this year for their work promoting scientific co-operation between China and other countries.

Daniel Vasella from Switzerland picked up an award for his work developing medicines for China's medical companies.

Kenneth W. Gentle from the United States received recognition for his contribution to Sino-US co-operation in nuclear fusion.

Italian Corrado Clini was honored for work on environmental development and the exploitation of solar and other energy resources.

Richard Chang from the United States took an award for developing China's information industry.

And Kenji Ekuan from Japan, who has been active in improving China's production of electrical goods, also received an award.

Despite the large number of honours being handed out, none of the programmes was selected to win China's top science award, the Supreme State Science and Technology Award. Referred to by some as "China's Nobel prize."

Insiders said projects recommended for the gong failed to meet the relevant high standards.