China will push forward an international cooperation plan on new-generation clean energy, a senior science official said yesterday.

Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Shang Yong, said China would play a leading role in a multinational project on new-generation clean energy involving 30 other countries and regions.

He made the remarks at the opening of the International Forum on Globalization of R&D.

China has already participated in a number of international cooperation programs on electricity generation and fourth-generation nuclear energy, according to Shang.

"The move is an important step in China's efforts to become an innovation-driven nation," he said, adding that China would also make use of global R&D resources to develop science and technology.

He noted that China would carry out inter-government cooperation in fields such as energy, resources, environment, biology and agriculture and encourage local enterprises to participate in international cooperation in the fields of information technology, new material development and modern manufacturing.

China would also help higher education institutes forge ties with their foreign counterparts on high-technology and attract overseas talents with preferential policies.

Statistics show that in the fields of science and technology China has had exchanges with 152 countries and regions and signed 99 inter-government agreements. Over the past five years 270,000 foreign scientists visited China and 260,000 Chinese scientists went overseas.

Shang stressed that the Chinese government would strengthen its role as an intermediary for cooperation between R&D institutions and businesses. 

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2006)