The five-year (2001-05) development plan has been submitted to the ongoing annual work conference of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) for discussion.

It states that academics should try to come up with their own principles and theories and make outstanding achievements which are valued across the world.

CASS expects that 30 to 40 of these academics will achieve this goal by the end of 2005.

Meanwhile, world-famous research institutes must have world leaders in their fields and have advanced research facilities and information databases. Six to eight of these institutes are estimated to reach this goal.

During the next five years, CASS will complete the construction of 50 national laboratories for social sciences and finish about 100 significant scientific projects, said Jiang Lansheng, vice-president of CASS.

CASS is expected to attract the heads of 50 key labs from both home and abroad. Anybody can bid for the posts.

The labs will represent the highest academic level of CASS, Jiang said.

With a start-up investment of 2 million yuan (US$ 241,000), the labs will be equipped with teleconference facilities and computers with Internet access.

In addition, those labs would get 1 million yuan (US$120,000) worth of funds every year, according to Jiang.

(Xinhua 01/18/2001)