China will focus on developing two or three world-class science parks in the country's 53 national-level high-tech industrial zones.

Minister Xu Guanhua of Science and Technology said yesterday in Beijing that the high-tech zones are a crucial part of the nation's innovation strategy.

Ten to 15 of the industrial zones will be built into regional high-tech innovation centers before 2010, Xu added.

At the National High-Tech Industry Development Zones meeting which opened yesterday, Xu said the government will institute more favorable financing and tax policies to facilitate the growth of high-tech enterprises, most of which are located in the 53 zones.

Ma Songde, vice minister of science and technology, said the ministry is now working with China Development Bank and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange to create a better financing environment for medium and small high-tech enterprises through a pioneering-fund support plan that was drawn up last year.

Favorable tax policies will also be given to domestic enterprises that engage in technological innovation, Ma said.

At the meeting, State Councilor Chen Zhili criticized some Chinese state-owned enterprises' reliance on importing high-tech knowledge and talent and their lack of innovation. She said only 30 percent of China's enterprises engaged in research and innovation in 2003.

China built its first high-tech zone Zhongguancun Science Park in Beijing in 1988.

(China Daily August 26, 2005)