The survey conducted by the Sociology Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (SICASS) revealed that natural scientists, social scientists, university professors, mayors of major cities and ministers are the top five valued professions in China.

Researchers concluded that three indicators play a big role in assessing a profession -- scientific knowledge and professional skill, political authority and income.

"Professional reputation mirrors the core values of an industrial society, and can measure the level and trends of social strata," said Xu Xinxin, one of the survey organizers.

Xu, who is also a researcher with SICASS, also conducted a profession reputation survey in 63 cities in 1999, at which time scientists scored much lower marks than the latest find.

In the 1999 survey, mayors of major cities, ministers and university professors ranked the top three professions in the country.

Xu said the reason for the improvement in scientists' professional reputation was that the country has attached greater importance to scientific researches in recent years, especially since the establishment of the country's top scientific awards with 5 million yuan (US$602,410) in 2001.

The survey, which will use the data for a new profession reputation chart, received 3,183 questionnaires out of 3,780 distributed to 28 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across China.

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2003)