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No.170

 

CHINA  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY
NEWSLETTER
The Ministry of Science and Technology
People's Republic of China

N0.170 November 30,1998

 
IN THIS ISSUE

  • World Advanced Level of China's Marine Measuring and Navigating

  • Major Breakthroughs for High Resolution Digital Images Output Techniques

  • New Progress for Chinese Traditional Medicine Against AIDS

  • Venture Capital Businesses between MOST and IDG

  • China's International Papers among World Top Ten

  • Fifth Heliang Heli Award Conferred

  • First Digital Earth Network in Chinese Language

  • Plans oil petrochem progress

  • "Golden Trade" Program Launched


RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

World Advanced Level of China's
Marine Measuring and Navigating

    Thanks to last two-decade reform and development, China's marine measuring and navigating techniques have realized four major jumps from land to sea, ocean surface to floor, domestic to abroad and measuring to navigating.

    The measuring fleet headed by Yuanwang marine space measuring vessel have for the last decades aimed at the cutting edge of world space technology and solved a number of major technical difficulties such as measuring in the circumstances of earth rotating, current flowing, ship body and antenna swaying and targets moving. They have made the following four achievements:

    * On May 1980, Yuanwang measuring boat successfully completed its measuring mission for China's first long range carrier rocket experiment, which realized the jump from land measuring to marine one;

    * On October 1988, Yuanwang measured the end zone and placement of carrier rocket launched from the submarine with a placement measuring accuracy reaching five times higher than before, which provided important evidence for finalizing the design of new prototype missile;

    * On April 1990, Yuanwang successfully defined the transfer orbit by utilizing near earth super short arch data of foreign made geostationary satellite, which has made the measuring accuracy into a new phase and realized the jump from measuring domestic made satellites to foreign ones;

    * During the period between May and June 1997, Yuanwang completed the measuring missions for two different satellites. It for the first time in the country successfully practiced the integrated control of the attitude and nutation of Fengyun II satellite and 596 minute tracking measuring. This earmarked the jump from marine space measuring to navigating.

    It is reported that in the last two decades Yuanwang measuring fleet has completed 31 Pacific expeditions with a cumulative mileage for 500,000 and fulfilled 34 measuring and navigating missions for major national scientific experiments and international commercial space activities with a success rate for 100%. All these efforts and progresses have made China's integrated marine measuring and navigating capacity rank in the world advanced level.

Major Breakthroughs for High Resolution
Digital Images Output Techniques

    Chinese made output equipment for high resolution digital images has passed technical approval in Beijing on October 22, 1998. The verification panel consisting of renowned scientists such as Wang Daheng, academician for both Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering and Mu Guoguang, academician of CAS believed that the successful development of the equipment earmarked the major breakthrough in China's high resolution digital image techniques with its major indictors being in line with internationally advanced level.

    Chinese authorities started from 1993 to organize departments concerned to address major technical difficulties in the area and eventually worked out high resolution image output equipment of world advanced level with a number of unique technologies. It is revealed by authorities concerned that the equipment will not only be of important economic and application values to space and remote sensing and earth measuring but also to the modernization of military forces. In the meanwhile, it will help to place a period to the long dependence on import of such equipment.

New Progress for Chinese Traditional
Medicine Against AIDS

    Chinese Academy of Preventive Medical Sciences and Beijing AIDS Clinic Research Center have witnessed new progress in their development of new AIDS drug purely made of Chinese traditional medical herbs. Clinical testing results turned out by Beijing Ditan Hospital, a clinical experimental base authorized by Ministry of Health has demonstrated the apparent effects of the new drug on AIDS viruses.

    Prof. Xu Daozhen and Li Xingwang, Director of the Hospital told reporters that they have started the clinical testing on 5 AIDS patients by using "Gongmingkang - HIV" from last February. The testing results achieved by AIDS Prevention and Control Center of Ministry of Health and AIDS Intercomparison Lab have shown decreasing AID viruses count in these patients though to different extends. Of them, two have showed remarkable reduction of virus count to 380 and 1800 from original 15000 and 390,000 respectively.

    In the meanwhile, the patients have seen apparent increase of their CD4 cells with one of them enjoying an increase from 280 to 510 and continuing to 630 even after ceasing to use the drug. Another patient has doubled his CD4 cells by number. These have demonstrated the improved immune functions of patients, a major progress achieved by Chinese traditional medicine in curing AIDS diseases.

    It is reported that Chinese traditional medicine formula- "Gongmingkang-HIV" developed by Heilongjiang Gongming Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. is an effective cure for viral hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Being the result of multi- disciplinary studies covering genetics, cytology, virology and immunology, the new drug is composed of effective extracts from Chinese traditional herbs targeting on the features of AIDS viruses such as fast reproduction, changeability and drug resistance.

    The new drug has drawn international attentions for it is able to greatly reduce virus counts and increase CD4 cells without harming normal immune cells in human bodies.   Russian experts have started their clinical testing on the new drug.

NEWS BRIEFS

Venture Capital Businesses
between MOST and IDG

   US based International Digital Group announced recently that it will invest US$ 1 billion in China's high tech industries in next seven years to support China developing its own high tech industries. A Memorandum of Understanding on the Co-operation of Developing Venture Investment in China was signed by IDG Chairman and Madame Deng Nan, Vice Minister of Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

    The Memo indicates that MOST will encourage and support IDG's initiatives for venture investment in China's high tech industries and create environment favorable for such investment. In the spirit of friendly cooperation, equality and mutual benefit, supplementing to each other and long term development, both sides agreed to establish a strategic partnership on high tech industry development and make their due contributions through strengthening information exchanges and personnel training.

    It is revealed that IDG will invest US$ 1 billion in Chinese high tech industries to support the development in the sector. By taking advantage of its resources and expertise in technical information industry and venture investment management, it will provide training on market analysis, project assessment, S&T product development and venture capital management for Chinese high tech industries.

    Recent years have seen China paying more and more attention to the role played by venture capital in nurturing and supporting its high tech industries and associated efforts made in policies making and fund raising for this sector.

China's International Papers
among World Top Ten

    On October 23, 1998, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) announced its statistic result on China's S&T papers published in 1997. In 1997, China saw 35,311 S&T papers published including the papers by periodicals and international symposium, 28.1% up than last year (7,742). As a result, China was ranked in the 9th place in the world in terms of the quantity.

    Statistics results published by MOST also include 16,883 papers on basic research results of natural science collected by SCI, landed an increase by 16.8% with 2,424 papers more than that of last year, 12th place in the world; EI collected 12,638 Chinese papers on engineering sciences, 3,491 more than that of last year, up 38.2%, 4th place; Chinese papers collected by international symposium proceedings reached 5,790, 1,827 in number, 46.1% more than last year and up to 9th place from the previous 11th. Chinese papers quoted also went up from 8,826 papers to 9,952 with its times quoted from 15,800 to 18,434.

Fifth Heliang Heli Award Conferred

    98' Heliang Heli Award Conferring Ceremony was held at the Great Hall of People in Beijing on October 22, 1998.

    It is reported that two famous figures among the winners of S&T achievements awards are Su Buqing and Song Jian, renowned scientists for their respective contributions to mathematics and control theory, missile and space technology and population control theory. Other 61 scientists including Yang Le were conferred with S&T progress awards for their major contributions to mathematics dynamics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, meteorology, earth science, life science and medical sciences.

First Digital Earth Network
in Chinese Language

    The digital earth network in the Chinese language developed by Institute of Remote Sensing, Chinese Academy of Sciences has become an authoritative website in Chinese on digital earth theory and technological development since it made its appearance on October 4, 1998.

    Yang Chongjun, a research fellow of the Institute responsible for the website said that most part of digital earth theory, technology, data and applications are directly related to their traditional counterparts, though it is a new concept. Digital earth theory will play an important role both in the nation's current economic development and future knowledge based economic society. Its data and information will produce extensive social and economic benefits for most sectors such as agriculture, global changes, environment, resources, population, disaster prevention, urban development, education and national defense.

    Digital earth website (http://www.digitalearth.net.cn) opened a variety of features such as digital earth briefing, forum, demonstration, data archive, international digital earth and associated websites.

Plans oil petrochem progress

    China's State Economic and Trade Commission (SETC) has announced new strategic plans in an effort to achieve sustained growth in the petroleum and chemical industries during the next decade. By 2000, China is expected to fall short of its demand for crude oil by 30-40 million tons.

    Crude oil output in 2000 is expected to be only 145 million tons and the output of natural gas 35 billion cubic metres.

    To guarantee profits of State-owned oil exploration enterprises, the key to this year's economic target, the Chinese Government will have to suspend oil imports beginning in the fourth quarter rather than purchasing oil at current low prices and creating future reserves, according to reliable sources.Production of ethylene will rise to about 4.6 million tons at the turn of the century, leaving a huge gap to be filled because forecasts of actual demand are expected to be 7 million tons.

    Last year, China produced 3.58 million tons of ethylene. Synthetic materials, fine chemicals, rubber products,and chemicals used for environmental production are four other major product lines SETC urged enterprises to develop intensively.

    The output of synthetic resins was 6.49 million tons in 1997,but imports exceeded the figure by a large margin, at 9 million tons.

    The market potential for chemical products and equipment was described as "huge" although current annual sales of environmental products in China is estimated at only 7 billion yuan (US$843 million).

    To ensure the economic growth this year, the central government recently initiated a series of measures, including anti-smuggling moves and a ban on imports of refined oil products, to revive flagging demand.

    The ban on chemical fibre processing trade is expected to be implemented soon.

    The restructured petroleum and chemical industries account for 7.7 per cent of the nation's industrial assets.

    Statistics showed that rebuilding in flood-stricken areas has created an increased demand for plastics and chemical fibres, injecting life into a struggling petrochemical sector.

"Golden Trade" Program Launched

    The socalled "golden Trade" Program designed for promoting electronic commercial activities was formally kicked off on October this year. As shown by its blueprint, the Program will within three years win over 80% of enterprises in the country to show on the network.

    Golden Trade Program is supposed to be responsible for preparing China's master plan for electronic trade activities and formulate the basic framework and pattern for electronic trade development. By taking into account internationally accepted practices, it will study and define relevant policies and regulations on electronic trade development in the country and work on rules and standards for information distribution, commodity exchange and system operation in the area. It will address some important issues facing current electronic trade activities such as on-line payment, taxation, signature recognition and reconfirmation. Th eprogram is also tasked to develop and construct electronic trade system and improve on-line information processing, transactions and financial settlement through technical development and installation of system hardware so as to provide low-cost, safe and flexible, standard and interactive electronic trade system.

    By fully taking advantage of the favorable conditions created by existing programs such as Golden Customs, Golden Card, Golden Taxation and electronic banking system developed by People's Bank, it will establish an electronic trade system that will incorporate Chinese electronic trade activities in the global market network.


       Comments or inquiries on editorial matters or Newsletter content should be directed to:Mr. Dong Jianlong, Department of International Cooperation, MOST 15B, Fuxing Road Beijing 100862, PR China  Tel: (8610)68512650 Fax: (8610) 68512594, or Mr. Wang Jianping, Editor,NEWSLETTER, 15 Fuxing Road Beijing 100038, PR China, Tel:(8610) 68515544 Ext. 2921