The State Middle and Long Term Sci-tech Development Plan Leadership Group headed by Premier Wen Jiabao was set up in the middle of June, according to Xu Guanhua, minister of science and technology, who released the news at a recent Strategic Research Forum on State Middle and Long Term Sci-tech Development Plan.
The Leadership Group is in charge of decision-making on significant issues during the process of drawing up the plan. State Councilor Chen Zhili is the deputy head of the group. The group members are comprised of leading officials from 20 units including the General Affairs Office of the State Council, the State Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance and the General Equipment Department of the PLA (People's Liberation Army).
Xu said the Middle and Long Term Sci-tech Development Plan of China in the new era must focus on significant issues and demands concerning national economic construction, social development and state security, making a general deployment on China's sci-tech development in the next 15 to 20 years. Currently, a website setup for the plan has been put into operation in order to widely solicit opinions and suggestions from people from all walks of life.
It is reported that China has drawn up seven sci-tech development plans since the People's Republic of China was established on October 1, 1949. The new plan will be China's first middle and long term sci-tech development plan in the 21st century and the first sci-tech plan after the preliminary establishment of the socialist market economy system, and also will be the first plan to be stipulated and carried out after the formation of the new government in March this year.
During the process of formulating the plan, China will also set up strategic expert groups covering sci-tech, economy, society and management; establish several subject research groups mainly comprising strategic experts; and mobilize the engagement of frontline sci-tech personal. Meanwhile, exchange and communication between various research subjects needs to be enhanced. A regular exchange, discussion and updated reporting system will be set up. After the preliminary research report is worked out, it will be submitted to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences for consultation.
Xu added that China will frequently invite noted experts from both home and abroad to listen to their opinions and suggestions on research development and issues of significant importance.
(China.org.cn by Wang Qian, July 7, 2003)
