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)
