In order to speed up adjustment to the national defense technology industry, promote the reform and development and bring overall rejuvenation, the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, the National Development and Reform Commission issued Policy Compendium for the national defense technology industry after approval of the State Council. The compendium will serve as basis for making special policy for the national defense technology industry. It is also foundation for policies governing sectors including nuclear, aerospace, aviation, shipbuilding, weaponry, war industry, and electronics.

The compendium is made up of 52 articles and consists of nine parts, i.e. structure of the industry, organization of the industry, industrial technology, industrial layout, opening up of the industry, talents, confidentiality and security.

The compendium indicates that China will give keynote support to the national defense technology industry so as to speed up the growth and bring rejuvenation to the industry. The major measures include putting up steady investment increase mechanism for the national defense technology industry; strengthen informatization construction for the national defense technology industry; push the modernization of the national defense technology industry; give more support for high-tech industries that can be applied both for military and civil purpose; promote growth and technological advancement for civil products, whose production is supported by military technology, i.e. nuclear energy, nuclear applied technology, civil aerospace, civil aircrafts, civil ships, civil demolition, and special chemicals; actively push the national defense technology industry and switch its economic growth method; actively develop rising industries that employ information technology, new materials, energy-saving and environmental friendly, science of life, maritime engineering as forerunners; foster new economic growth points; continue to diversify the investment entity for the national defense technology industry; exert country's guidance function for investment; attract social funds to the construction of the national defense technology industry. The compendium notes that special efforts should be made to develop technologies applicable for military and civil use; actively absorb advanced technologies from other industries for national defense; promote transfer from civil technology to military technologies and vice versa.

As a country's strategic industry, the national defense technology industry is the important industrial and technological basis for the modernization of national defense. It is a crucial momentum for national economy and growth of sciences and technology. Since the founding of the PRC, China's national defense technology industry has made outstanding achievements. An independent system of national defense technology industry with full range of specialties as well as mature scientific research, experiment, production and service methods has already been formed.

(People's Daily June 1, 2004)