China is to build a world-class national science and technology museum in the 2008 Olympic Park north of Beijing, it was confirmed yesterday. ?

 

It was confirmed yesterday that China has undertaken to build a world-class national science and technology museum in the 2008 Olympic Park north of Beijing.

 

By investing in such a project, the Chinese government hopes to show the world during the Beijing Olympics the scientific and technological achievements scored by China in recent decades, said Deng Nan, Vice President of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST).

 

Deng made his comments yesterday afternoon at a ceremony where work on the foundations for the museum got officially underway.?? ?

 

The museum will cover a floor space of 48,000 square meters. The rectangular building, which has been designed jointly by the Beijing Architectural Design Institute and its American partner, will have a unique shape sitting against the backdrop of other Olympic Park structures. ?

 

The whole building is expected to open to the public in 2009 but some areas will be accessible by the inauguration of the Beijing Olympics on August 8, 2008. The museum is scheduled to arrange sports, science and technology and cultural exhibitions during the Olympics.?

 

The total investment for the museum is put at 1.13 billion yuan (US$14.1 million) with a construction area of 102,000 square meters, according to Deng.

 

The museum project will be jointly undertaken by the China Association for Science and Technology and Beijing municipal government.

 

The existing national science and technology museum is located in the northern part of downtown Beijing.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2006)