China should initiate some major international scientific programs, says an article in the overseas edition of People's Daily. An excerpt follows:

Initiating significant international scientific plans has become an important way to push forward scientific and technological development.

Some Western countries, by taking advantage of their national strength and scientific development superiority, however, have dominated the direction and implementation of these projects, with a lower-degree participation from developing nations. Also, they have worked hard to have the headquarters of international scientific programs set up in their territory, so as to acquire the benefits they expect will be produced by these projects.

In general, there is still a wide gap between China and some developed nations in terms of scientific and technological development. However, there is no denying that China has already made great strides forward in the economic domain, its national strength has been on the rise and a solid foundation has been formed in some of its scientific and technological fields.

The country possesses the ability to be a key player in some high-level international scientific co-operative projects, and some of its scientists are completely capable of organizing major international scientific projects at the world's scientific and technological forefront.

The initiation of a few significant international scientific programs will not only greatly raise China's status on the international scientific stage, but also reverse the current trend of domestic intellectuals flowing out of the country.

Besides, the implementation of some international high-tech projects with China as the main player will attract overseas Chinese researchers and scientists.

At the same time, the fruits of these projects will inevitably be to provide a solid scientific and technological foundation for the development of the national economy.

The country should set up some special channels of funds for the organization and implementation of such projects.

(China Daily January 12, 2006)