China's existing academician system is still " very young" and improvements are needed in selection procedures, financial rewarding and age limits, according to a leading Chinese technologist.

Academicians in China refer to members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).

The academician system has made major contribution to the country's economic growth, scientific and technological progress as well as the development of the defense industry, said Shen Guofang, CAE vice president.

As for the call of some members of the general public for reforming the academician system, Shen said his academy will take the public advice into consideration for improvements, quoted by the Guangming Daily.

There have been heated discussions lately on the efficiency of the academician system. The primary debates are largely focused on the selection procedures and financial rewarding for CAS and CAE academicians.

Shen, who is also a CAE academician, said the CAE is considering improving the transparency of new academicians' selection and earnestly dealing with complaints from the scientific community on personal merits and academic achievements of the candidates.

Shen said he didn't believe state allowances for CAS and CAE academicians are unreasonable as some members of the general public claimed. However, he urged academicians not to participate in activities irrelevant to their academic focuses, particularly business activities.

China founded the CAS in 1949 and the CAE in 1994. Their academicians are top honorary titles for scientists and technologists who have made outstanding contributions to the nation.

About 80 percent of the incumbent CAE academicians are active in their research fields, Shen said.

However, the role and contribution of the academicians should not be exaggerated, he said, adding, "They should be treated appropriately."

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2006)