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To fasten the pace of development in the biotechnology industry, the Chinese
government will improve its approach to scientific research and increase its
level of investment. CRI reporter Zheng Chenguang takes a closer look,
September 2005 by Zheng Chenguang.

Since the 1980s, the Chinese government has attached a high priority to
the development of biotechnology. In the past five years, the central
government has increased its investment in the development and application
of biotechnology to 12 billion yuan, or 1.5 billion US Dollars.

China State Councilor Chen Zhili says the government has made great efforts
to set up an innovative approach to restructuring the biotechnology
industry.

"The Chinese government has put the promotion of the biotechnology industry
and the development of the bio-economy high on the agenda. We have set out
preferential policies to enhance companies' ability at innovation. Meanwhile
we have increased investment into scientific research."

With the government's active promotion and support, China now has 900 modern
biotechnology companies and over 20 biotechnology parks in big cities such
as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

The development of biotechnology has contributed a lot to the economy, food
security and the environment. For example, the success of the development of
genetically modified cotton will bring about an increase of 600 million US
Dollars in farmers' income every year.

Xu Guanhua, Minister of Science and Technology, said that Chinese
biotechnology has great potential for causing further developments in the
coming 15 years.

"In the next 15 years, China's biotechnology development will aim at food
security, population health, environment improvement and energy security.
Thus bottlenecks limiting economic and social development can be solved."

He added that scientific research will enhance the development of biological
fertilizer, diagnostic technology for infectious diseases and methods for
reducing atmospheric pollution.

[en.chinabroadcast.cn]

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