Chinese scientists are making significant contributions to a landmark international science project to build the world's first fusion reactor, a senior official said yesterday.

Jin Xiaoming, director of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said the country had succeeded in the trial operation of a miniature version of the planned international reactor and is ready to start construction in collaboration with scientists from other countries.

The 11 billion-euro ($15.01 billion) International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is the largest-ever scientific research program under multinational collaboration, aimed at incubating a sustained solution of energy production.

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress, yesterday approved the Agreement of Joint Implementation of the ITER Project, which was signed by China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States in November 2006, in France.

"Construction of the reactor will begin later this year and the whole project will last for 35 years in four stages of constructing, operating, exploiting and deactivating the ITER facilities," Jin told China Daily.

"China has an equal footing with all participants on deciding key issues of the ITER organization, sharing construction, operation as well as research and development activities, obtaining equal opportunities with the all other parties on intellectual property rights."

The EU will fund roughly 46 percent of the budget. The rest of the participating countries including China will share 9 percent each of the costs.

(China Daily August 31, 2007)