2005-09-16

To fasten the pace of development in the biotechnology industry, the Chinese government will improve its approach to scientific research and increase its level of investment.

Since the 1980s, the Chinese government has attached a high priority to the development of biotechnology. In the past five years, the central government has increased its investment in the development and application of biotechnology to 12 billion yuan, or 1.5 billion US Dollars.

China State Councilor Chen Zhili says the government has made great efforts to set up an innovative approach to restructuring the biotechnology industry.

"The Chinese government has put the promotion of the biotechnology industry and the development of the bio-economy high on the agenda. We have set out preferential policies to enhance companies' ability at innovation. Meanwhile we have increased investment into scientific research."

With the government's active promotion and support, China now has 900 modern biotechnology companies and over 20 biotechnology parks in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

The development of biotechnology has contributed a lot to the economy, food security and the environment. For example, the success of the development of genetically modified cotton will bring about an increase of 600 million US Dollars in farmers' income every year.

Xu Guanhua, Minister of Science and Technology, said that Chinese biotechnology has great potential for causing further developments in the coming 15 years.

"In the next 15 years, China's biotechnology development will aim at food security, population health, environment improvement and energy security. Thus bottlenecks limiting economic and social development can be solved."

He added that scientific research will enhance the development of biological fertilizer, diagnostic technology for infectious diseases and methods for reducing atmospheric pollution.