Agriculture, health, hygiene and environmental protection will
be given the same priority as other industries in terms of State
funding for science and technology development,?China's Minister of Science and
Technology, Xu
Guanhua, said yesterday.
The Chinese government will significantly increase its input in
the four areas to reach similar investment levels seen in light and
heavy industries, he said.
Investment will also be stepped up for public welfare related
science and technology research projects, which will be given equal
importance as industrial high-tech projects, Xu said.
"Not only will we finance the projects but we will also give
more support in areas such as human resource building," he said,
but declined to reveal any specific figures.
The new measures mark a substantial adjustment to the countriy's
scientific and technological orientation, coming right after the
National Science and Technology Conference.
Ke Bing, a senior official with the Administrative Center for
China's Agenda 21, told China Daily the change is "natural
and significant." Ke, also a director with the division of
resources and environment, has been involved with discussions on
the country's new plan for science and technology development in
the next 15 years.
It is natural because "the largest challenge to China's future
development lies in energy, resources and environmental protection,
three areas plagued by various problems hindering economic growth,"
he said.
"The control of water pollution and new problems such as
persistent organic pollutants will remain at the top of the
agenda," he said.
He added that water protection measures will be integrated into
the construction of several ongoing projects, such as the Three Gorges Dam Project and the
south-to-north water diversion project.
The country has invested nearly 600 million yuan (US$75 million)
in environmental protection over the past five years, according to
Ke.
(China Daily January 13, 2006)