Central gov't backs Shanghai's 2010 World Expo bid
( 2002-11-27 09:51 ) (1 )

The central government will spare no effort to support Shanghai's bid to host the World Expo 2010, said an article in People's Daily. Excerpts follow:

The central government has pledged to provide extensive assistance for the bid in financing, human resources, customs clearance and news coverage.

Since China initiated its policy of reform and opening up, the country has experienced steady, rapid and healthy development. By the end of 2010, China's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to exceed US$2 trillion, which will provide powerful financial support for the World Expo.

In the next two decades, China's efforts to build a comparatively prosperous society in an all-around way will generate endless business opportunities, which China hopes to present to the world by hosting the World Expo 2010.

In line with the theme "Better City, Better Life," China is also willing to discuss strategies with other countries on sustainable development.

As the largest developing country in the world, China will rewrite the history of the World Expo if it hosts the gala event, which has been hosted by developed countries since the first expo held in London in 1851.

If China, the world's most populous country, wins the right to host the expo, it will help expand the influence of the expo as well as that of its initiator, the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE).

Public opinion in China is strongly behind Shanghai's bid, providing a sound social foundation for a successful expo.

On December 3, the winner of the bidding process, which involves Shanghai, Moscow of Russia, Queretaro of Mexico, Wroclow of Poland and Yeoso of the Republic of Korea, will be decided in a vote by the 132nd General Assembly of the BIE.

With more than 150 years of history, the World Expo has become a major wellspring of new ideas, concepts and technologies, and has also played an important role in ensuring their practical application. The expo also helps display the exhibiting countries' achievements, enhance international exchange and promote mankind's civilization and development.

China has participated in all World Expos since 1982 and has established positive and co-operative relations and solid friendships with many countries. With increasing overall national strength and further opening up, China is sincerely expecting to host the next World Expo, and invites all international friends to visit and exchange ideas and experiences with this rapidly-developing country with its long history of civilization.

If Shanghai wins the bid, China is confident that it will host the most successful, splendid and unforgettable World Expo in the history of the event. A 5,000-year history and 56 ethnic groups have endowed China with a diverse cultural charm, adding to the potential attractiveness of the event.

If Shanghai is given the chance, the BIE member countries will discover China's willingness to further expand economic, scientific and cultural co-operation with other countries.

Put R&D fund to better use

The nation's research and development (R&D) fund should be better utilized to enhance the country's innovative ability, urged an article in China Youth Daily. Excerpts follow:

The latest statistics show that China's R&D fund has reached 104.3 billion yuan (US$12.6 billion), accounting for 1.1 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Increasing funding for science and technology has always been an issue of great concern. As early as the Ninth Five-Year Plan period (1996-2000), the State stipulated that the R&D fund should increase in proportion with GDP growth.

The goal was set that by 2000 the R&D fund should account for 1.5 per cent of GDP.

Although the latest news shows this goal has not been achieved, the country made the commendable move of pumping more than 100 billion yuan (US$12 billion) into R&D last year, of which 70 billion yuan (US$8.5 billion) came from its central budget.

However, as a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering pointed out, what is most important is making full and effective use of these funds.

Among China's R&D institutes, about half have no academic papers published. Only 5 per cent of them have worked out scientific and technological achievements at the State level, and 15 per cent at the provincial level. Even Project 863, the country's key high-tech programme, has not seen a satisfactory application rate of its scientific and technological achievements.

These days most multinational companies create advanced technology through their own innovation. China has sought to introduce technology by allowing these foreign enterprises market access. This measure resulted in foreign products grabbing too much market share, and has rendered China too dependent on outside technology, which weakens its innovative capability.

China's economic growth can be mainly attributed to increased input in manpower and capital, not technological innovation. Although its yearly R&D funds have exceeded 100 billion yuan (US$12 billion), when compared with that of developed countries, they are only a "tip of the iceberg" and should be used more efficiently in key projects.