The State Council approved three national technological projects in the fields of telecommunications, water pollution control, and pharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation, during yesterday's meeting.

Premier Wen Jiabao presided over the executive meeting that deliberated the three projects. The three are a next-generation broadband wireless mobile communication network, water pollution control and treatment, and the manufacture and innovation of key new drugs.

"These technological projects, all set in the national medium- and long-term science and technology development plan, are of great significance to boosting China's independent innovation capability and industrial competitiveness," the meeting pointed out.

It said that "after a scientific, democratic and strict demonstration", the three schemes had become ripe for inauguration.

The next-generation communication network represents the main direction of communications development. Applying it will greatly enhance the overall competitiveness and innovative capacity of China's wireless mobile communication, and lift the industry to a more advanced world level, according to the meeting.

It said that the water pollution control project would provide solid technological support to address environmental woes of major water sources including the Yangtze River and Yellow River, to achieve an "energy saving and emission reduction" goal.

The drug innovation project would target the treatment and prevention of serious diseases and innovation of key drugs so as to offer the public safe, effective and cheap medical products, the meeting said.

The meeting also heard a report on the inspection and supervision of central enterprises, made by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, which was directly under the cabinet.

"Central enterprises have deepened the reform, accelerated restructuring and maintained a sound momentum of sustainable and fast development," it said.

However, violation of laws and regulations occasionally occurred due to relatively high debt and poor profits.

The meeting said that greater attention should be paid to SOE reform and management and supervision of state assets to promote sound development. It also asked enterprises to invest more in innovation, deepen SOEs' shareholding reform, and safeguard state asset security.

China's first state asset law, designed to protect state-owned assets from being illegally seized and to maintain the country's basic economic system, was submitted last Sunday and is being given initial consideration by the top legislature.

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2007)