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No.238

 
 
 


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



 
 
 
 
N0.238 October 20,2000
 
IN THIS ISSUE
    * hina's Heyday for Astronomical Studies
    * China's New Progress in Integrated Manufacturing System
    * China's New Height for Foreign Capital Utilization
    * China's World Advanced Luminous Diodes
    * China's Semiconductor Refrigerators
    * China's Major Breakthroughs in Key DVD Components
    * China Constructs Super Telescope

 
SPECIAL ISSUES
China's Heyday for Astronomical Studies

It is reported from the first academic conference of Chinese Astronomy Society held not long ago that the Chinese central authority has started from 1997 doubled its investment in astronomical studies, which has developed a historical heyday for the field, witnessing a series of major breakthroughs.

Large science projects have enjoyed smooth development. Following the completion of the preliminary design of large sky area multi-object fiber spectroscopic telescope(LAMOST) that will soon be under full fledged implementation, Chinese astronomers have now been working on the pre-studies of other two projects: solar telescope and 500-m astronomic telescope. They are the internationally class one observation instruments of innovative concepts and touches.

Of them, China's first 1-m solar telescope is expected to be launched into space in the first decade of the new century and become the largest astronomical satellite in the world.

A group of major observation systems have been completed one after the other. In collaboration with Australian and British scientists, Peking University, Wulumuqi Observatory and Hong Kong University have established
pulsar observation base through developing multiple-frequency pulsar observation instruments of internationally advanced accuracy at microseconds on the basis of 25m astronomical telescope of Wulumuqi Observatory. Shanghai Observatory has developed satellite based daytime laser rangers which are able to range the distance of satellites even under the strong noon sunlight with internationally advanced accuracy and won national S&T advance prize last year.

Chinese scientists have, through technological innovation, harvested a number of important astronomical discoveries. Beijing Observatory has turned a 60cm telescope into an intelligent supernova observation instrument which helped the Observatory discover 35 supernova displaying restless movement in the galaxy in 1997. In the meanwhile, other observatories have laid an extensive net to catch the small planets that may possibly hit the earth. Of the small planets discovered by Zijinshan Observatory, 142 have been given official names. In addition, Zijinshan Observatory has also discovered four comets. Beijing Observatory has discovered 175 small planets, which have been officially named. Zijinshan Observatory and Beijing Observatory have discovered some young celestial bodies such as 110 celestial bodies carrying water sources, which is of important values to the studies of planet formation.

Chinese astronomers have achieved the world eye catching theoretical research results by taking advantage of observational data available internationally, although China is still lack of large astronomical observation instruments. Wu Xiangping, aresearch fellow of Beijing Observatory has for the first in the world proposed the theory that there exists dark matter core in the center of galaxy clusters on the basis of his studies of the statistical characteristics of gravitational lens effects and the theory was reconfirmed by observations. In addition, hecreated the theoretical framework for micro gravitational lens.
 
Recent years have witnessed remarkable results achieved by Chinese astronomers in basic astronomical studies. Shanghai Observatory established the non-rigidearth nutation model for oceans and atmosphere, which has become one of the four nutation models acknowledged by the international communities for references purpose. The model has also drawn out China's horizontal earth crust movement chart, the first of its kind in the world, disclosing the basic characteristics of the Chinese continent movement. Zijinshan Observatory successfully predicted the fall of overseas satellites that had lost control; Shaanxi Observatory has established China's world time and atomic time reference system and long and short-wave time service system.

China's New Progress in Integrated Manufacturing System

Recent years have witnessed China's great attention paid to manufacturing technologies, especially the automation and information process of manufacturing. Since 1986 when CIMS project was kicked off under the National 863 Program, the computer based integrated manufacturing system characterized with information integration at earlier stage has been eventually upgraded to the modern integrated manufacturing system based on information integration and industrial optimization as the result of 15-year tireless efforts. At present, there are more than 200 manufacturers in the country demonstrating their modern integrated manufacturing systems applied with multiple production and operational modes on different scales. Covering a wide range of businesses, these manufacturers have been dotted over the country with their products ranging from simple ones to sophisticated ones, achieving remarkable economic and social benefits. 50 and odd products of 11 categories supported and nurtured by the modern integrated manufacturing system have taken up 85% of the software products needed by industrial information process, shaping up a new industry of an annual output value exceeding Rmb 100 million with a domestic market share of 10% and above.

It is reported that Shaanxi Province, a demonstration area for the application of modern integrated manufacturing systems has so far successfully staged the modern integrated manufacturing system in 11 enterprises including Xi'an Aircraft In dustrial Corporation, Qinchuan Machine Tools Group Co. Ltd., Xianyang Deflection Group Corporation, Xi'an Aeronautic Motor Corporation and China Standard Sewing Machine Group Co. Ltd.. The applications of advanced manufacturing technologies and information technologies in transforming traditional industries have become valuable assets for the future development of the manufacturing industry in west China.

China's New Height for Foreign Capital Utilization

During the 9th Five-Year Plan period, thanks to the tireless efforts of all economic sectors, China has shaped an opening pattern for all the fields, at multiple levels and in diversified areas.

During the period from 1996 to 1999, China had utilized foreign capital totaled USD 230 billion. It is expected that the foreign capital utilization during the 9th Five-Year Plan period will go up to USD 290 billion, landing a growth of 80% against the previous Five-Year period. Of the said capital utilization, the foreign investment in the period is expected to reach USD 230 billion, nearly double the figure in the previous period. Foreign investment has since 1993 ranked the first place among the developing nations for 7 consecutive years and the second place in the world for 6 years in a row.

During the 9th Five-Year period, China's foreign capital utilization has hit the heyday in the history either in terms of its scale or in the areas or in geographic distribution. The foreign investment absorbed in the period is expected to take up 63% of the total foreign investment absorbed by China on a cumulative basis. The foreign capital utilization in the field of banking, insurance, commerce, foreign trade and tourism will be further expanded and the middle and westsections of China are allowed to widen their areas for absorbing foreign capital,loosen the condition for setting up foreign funded joint ventures and increase the shareholding percentage of foreign investors.

During the same period, the quality of China's foreign capital utilization has been further improved with better industrial structures for foreign investment and enhanced foreign investment in manufacturing and high tech industries with declined input in real estate properties. The technical intensity of foreign investment has seen remarkable improvement. Transnationals have showed their great interest in investing in China with 400 of the 500 international transnationals having made their investment in the country.

The major achievements in foreign capital utilization made during the period has greatly promoted the national economic development. It is reported that in 1999 the added values of foreign invested industries and enterprises took up 20.7% of the nation's total and taxation payment 16%. Their import and export volume in the nation's proportion also went up from 39.1% in 1995 to 50.8% in 1999, of which the export ascended by 45.5%. In addition, the foreign capital utilization has promoted the upgrading of China's industrial structures and technical levels, stimulating the transformation of industrial management mechanism and the development in the west.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
China's World Advanced Luminous Diodes

Thanks to the support of China's high tech R&D program, the study team headed by Li Yuzhang, a research fellow of Chinese Academy of Sciences have recently turned out China's first luminous diodes giving out bright red, orange and yellow lights. Of them, the brightness of MOCVD orange-red luminous diodes has reached the world advanced level and the technology been granted with China's patent rights. Li Yuzhang briefed that the indicator lamps made of luminous diodes fall in the category of cold light sources that render a life span of more than ten years under a low working pressure of only two volts. It is reported that only few developed nations in the world such as US and Japan are able to manufacture the epitaxial wafer and chips for luminous diodes of high brightness.

China's Semiconductor Refrigerators

Applied with efficient heat transmission and dispersion apparatus and current controlling techniques, Hebei Energy Efficiency Investment Co. Ltd. has developed high tech refrigerators on the basis of semiconductor cooling components without changing their structures. The development has reaped a break through result in semiconductor cooling technique applications at internationally advanced level. The said products have drawn great attention of the clients in Europe and US.

It is reported that in comparison to the compressor cooling system, the semiconductor cooling system has numerous energy efficiency merits such as needing no compressors and nor freon and hence no noise and nor pollution. The said system attracted great attention of the traders attending the Spring Fair held in Guangzhou this year. The manufacturer of the said system had met with clients from 74 countries and signed supply contracts with 13 of them. Since its mass production commenced last April, the monthly export of the products has reached 1000 sets., The manufacturer has signed cooperation agreements with Beijing based SnowFlake Refrigerator Manufacturer and Hangzhou based Xileng Refrigerator Manufacturer. As a result, an enhanced mass production of the said
products could be expected from this October on.

Chinese made flying Sauces

A sauce shaped flying machine developed by the experts group headed by Wang Sijiu, a senior engineer of Beijing Zhongke Boda Innovation S&T Center made its debut in Beijing, and has been granted with the national patent right.

Made of high intensity toughened glass, the UFO shaped flying machine is able totake off and touch down vertically like a helicopter. With a diameter of 6 meters and height of 8 meters for its doom shaped cover, the flying machine is able to house 40 passengers in addition to 2-ton cargo load in its three leveled indoor structures. It may serve for purposes of both carrying passengers and cargo. Three turbojet engines with thrusting forces ranging from 3500 kilos to 6100 kilos can be operated on a separate basis as well as on synchronous basis. Having a steady taking off and landing record, the machine has a fast cruising speed of max. 1000 km per hour. It is able to suspend in the air for long time at any altitude above the ground. When operating, the pilot is allowed to run an all weather flight with easy ascending or descending, forward and backward. The flying machine is free from the interference of electric waves and impacts of weather or roads. While ensuring the safety of both passengers and the machine and needing a limited area for landing with flexible movement, it is of extensive applications perspectives for special missions that are hard for winged aircraft such as in tourism, sightseeing, air-born photography, inspection, surveying, traffic control, power supply, tracking traffic accident suspects, hunting, criminal tracking, expedition, rescue, express mailing, banking notes delivery, marine smuggling cracking down and fire suppression.

China's Major Breakthroughs in Key DVD Components

Under the support of China's National 863 Program for high technology development and that of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the development of 650-nanometer semi-conductor laser device, a key component of DVD machine chaired by Chen Lianghui, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences working for the Institute of Semiconductivity, has witnessed a recent breakthrough progress. It is reported that the result of application of the new products in a Chinese DVD assembly line as the substitute for imported products has shown that the technologies manufacturing the products have reached the advanced level of similar products manufactured overseas.

Traditional Medicines for Astronaut's' Osteoporosis

China-France space based experiments have demonstrated that a kind of Chinese traditional medicine compound is able to effectively stimulate the growth of bones forming cells in the space flying environment, which constitutes an effective measure to curb the osteoporosis suffered by astronauts.

Li Yinghui, an associated research fellow of Chinese Institute of Space and Aviation Medical Engineering said that Chinese and French scientists placed 6 bone formation cell lab boxes in a French air-born cell cultivation device aboard on aretrievable satellite launched by the European Union Space Agency last October. The 15-day space flying experiment has shown that such Chinese traditional medicine is able to stimulate the multiplication of bone formation cells at least in view of the cell level.

NEWS BRIEFS
China Constructs Super Telescope

As disclosed at the first academic meeting of Chinese Association on Astronomy, China will construct its LAMOST in Nanjing in the year. To be installed at Xinglong Observatory located at Yanshan Mountains in Xinglong County, Hebei Province, it is reported that this major national scientific project will be completed by 2004. With a length of 50m, height 30m, viewing field 5 degree and caliber 4m, the said telescope, LAMOST for short will become the telescope of the largest viewing field and caliber in the world. With its unprecedented observation capacity for 20 square degrees (the whole universe is of about 40,000 square degrees) per observation, it will take men the first decade of the 21st century to measure the spectrum of 1 million and more celestial bodies.

International Popular Science Forum in China

2000' China International Forum on Popular Sciences co-sponsored by Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, Chinese Association of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences and National Natural science Foundation will be held in Beijing from November 5-9, 2000. The forum will be a large, comprehensive and open gathering event for popular sciences and is unprecedented in terms of its scale, scope and levels.

The theme of the forum is "popular sciences facing the new century". The discussion to be made at the Forum will cover the role of governments in the diffusion of popular science, scientists' responsibility in promoting public awareness of sciences, the relationship between popular sciences and improving the scientific quality of the public, the relationship between popular sciences and scientific research, scientific education and its role in popular sciences, assessment of the scientific quality of the public, mass media and popular scientific activities, the major characteristics of S&T halls and scientific centers and their development trend.

As disclosed by the organizers, in addition to academic activities, other colorful activities have also been arranged such as popular science books fair, consultation and talks on copyrights, meetings between Chinese and foreign scientists and teenagers, visit to S&T Halls, Beijing Botanic Garden and stage show by scientists engaged in anti pseudo science activities.

China's Future Plan for Space Grass Breeding

Chinese space experts disclosed not long ago that China is planning to launch a satellite dedicated to seed breeding for grass, bushes and trees as well as farm crops in two to three years, the first of its kind in the world. It is reported that Chinese space seeds breeding experts have introduced 21 fine grass species from Hungary including the ones for pastureland, urban greening, vegetation and energy applications and have grown them for localization over an area of 50 hectares in Shandong, Hebei and Beijing respectively. 15 of them featured with drought, cold and diseases resistance have been selected out for future aboard experiment.


       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. 2580

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