China aims to become 'world technological power' by 2049

Beijing: China aims to become a "world technological power" by 2049 and a leading nation in innovation and scientific development, according to a new government document.

The document, released Sunday by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council (or cabinet), said "deepening technological system reform and accelerating national innovation system construction" sets the goal for China to be "in the ranks of innovative nations" by 2020, Xinhua reported.

The document urged efforts to "deepen the reform" of the scientific and technological systems and "step up building of a national innovative system" so as to lay a foundation for China to become a technological power when celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2049.

It said China's research and development funds nationwide should reach 2.2 percent of the GDP during the country's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), and more than 2.5 per cent by 2020.

The average research and development input for large- and medium-sized industrial enterprises should increase to 1.5 per cent of their revenues during the 2011-2015 period, it said.

For every 10,000 employees, there should be at least 43 research and development personnel each year, it said.

The development of "strategic emerging industries", such as energy preservation and environmental protection, new-generation information technology, biology, advanced equipment manufacturing, new energy and material as well as green vehicles, should be accelerated, it said.

The construction of potential first rate scientific research institutes and universities will be facilitated in the five-year period, it said.

The support for "innovative activities" of "non-state companies" should be expanded and the fiscal and financial support for small and medium-sized companies and micro-businesses would be increased, according to the document.

Major breakthroughs of key technologies should be materialised in sectors like electronic information, energy and environment protection, biological medicine and advanced manufacturing.

Technological innovation should be made in industries related to people's livelihoods, such as health, food and drug safety, and disaster relief, the document said.