The Chinese government will continue to support bio-technology as one of its top priorities for national economic and social progress, said Vice-Minister of Science and Technology Li Xueyong on Thursday.
Li said during the tenth Five-Year Plan period (2001-2005), the central government would invest 6 billion yuan (US$726 million) in basic and application research in the life sciences, as well as in some high-tech research and development.
Meanwhile, local governments, new and high-tech enterprises, venture investment and various funds would also contribute in this regard, noted Li.
He listed the three principles for China's bio-technology development as strengthening technological research and product development, promoting the industrialization of bio-technology, and ensuring bio-safety.
He said the life sciences, bio-technology and the biological industry played a crucial role in China's economic and social progress.
So far, Chinese scientists had made major achievements in developing "super rice" and genetically-modified pest-resistant cotton.
Statistics from the Ministry of Science and Technology show that in the past five years, China has developed a total of 600 new crop varieties and 1,000 new products, and built nearly 2,000 test bases and 5,000 pilot sites.
Bio-technology breakthroughs have been playing an increasingly decisive role in medicine, health, clean energy, pollution treatment and chemical products development.
(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2003)
