Chinese Science and Technology Minister Xu Guanhua pledged to increase public welfare research Thursday.

Currently, China's public welfare research is comparatively weak. "The Chinese government will substantially increase all aspects of its public welfare research effort, including research projects, talents and bases," Xu said.

At the meeting of directors of scientific and technological bureaus, Xu listed other leading focuses of scientific and technological research during the 11th Five-Year-Plan period (2006-2010), including upgrading overall innovation capabilities by making breakthroughs in key fields.

`China will very significantly upscale its efforts in basic science and cutting-edge science.

China's National Conference on Science and Technology, which ended Wednesday, drew the strategic outline for building an innovation-oriented nation.

Xu urged scientific and technological departments at various levels to give priority to enhancing the capacity for innovation.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2006)