This Day, That Year

Item from April 20, 1991, in China Daily: China is reaping the first fruits of its high-tech research and development program, known as the 863 Plan.

The program was launched in March 1986. It has fostered research and development, mainly in the fields of biotechnology, space information, computerization and laser automation, energy and new materials.

Thanks to a series of State-funded science and technology programs since the 1980s, China has enjoyed a technological and scientific boom.