Hi-tech zones weathering global crisis

The country's high-tech economic zones have shown strong resilience to the global slowdown, a top government official said yesterday.

Speaking at a conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) - the country's largest NGO for scientists and engineers - Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang said: "China's hi-tech zones have been the least affected by the economic meltdown."

Economic indexes rose steadily in 54 hi-tech industry development zones over the first three quarters of the year, with some achieving more than 20 percent growth, he said.