China Science & Technology Digest:
January 15-31, 2003

ATIP

This digest summarizes S&T-related articles that appeared in the media ATIP monitored in the second half of January 2003. Some articles reference a relevant website to assist readers in obtaining further information. For questions or to request additional information, please send email to ChinaST@atip.or.jp. The exchange rate used for this issue is RMB8.287 against the U.S. dollar.

Nuclear Technology Value Hits 15 Billion Yuan Per Annum
China has expanded its application of nuclear technology into wider areas such as industry, agriculture, and medicine, which produced an income of 15 billion yuan (approx. US$1.8 billion) last year. Currently, the country has 300 enterprises engaged in manufacturing and developing nuclear technology-related products.
Source: People's Daily 01/28/2003

Chinese Nuclear Power Generates Record Energy
China's nuclear power stations generated 24 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2002. China has five nuclear power plants and seven nuclear power units with a capacity of about five and half million kilowatts. Tests show there were no domestic nuclear radiation or environmental pollution accidents in 2002. China's nuclear fuel industry is also able to provide fuel for all domestic nuclear power plants. China's nuclear power capacity is expected to reach 8.7 million kilowatts by 2005.
Source: People's Daily 01/23/2003

Project Aims for Space Lab
China plans to launch temporary space laboratories once it has sent astronauts into space. A permanently manned space station will be established later. It is said China is developing a new family of launch vehicles to propel a 20-ton space station. China's four unmanned test spacecraft were all sent into orbit from the corporation's Long March 2F rockets. The new launchers will be built according to a modular design based on three models from the core stages -- 2.25 meters, 3.35 meters, and 5 meters in diameter. Chinese researchers are also working to produce China's own liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and refined kerosene to produce a powerful propulsion fuel that will leave no pollutants or toxins
Source: China Daily 01/16/2003

China Launches Joint Aviation Science Fund
The China National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC) and the China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I) signed an agreement to launch a joint aviation science fund. The joint fund will consist of an annual contribution of four million yuan (US$0.5 million), with each party providing half of the contribution. The fund aims to attract top research talent in the field of aviation science and to promote the combination of knowledge and technological innovation. Established in 1999, AVIC I owns over one hundred domestic enterprises involved in the research, production, and sale of civilian aircraft, engines, and other products.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 01/17/2003

Research Institute for Light Civil Aircraft Founded in NW China
China's first institute for the design and research of light aircraft for civil use was recently founded in Xi'an, capital of the northwestern province of Shaanxi. The new institute, which is affiliated with the Xi'an Aircraft Design and Research Institute, will focus on developing new models of China-made light civil aircraft to meet the growing domestic market demand.
Statistics show that, currently, with a fleet of 200,000, the United States holds 60 percent of the world's light civil aircraft. However, in China, there are only 301 of these aircraft in service, most of which are aging and outdated, and are used only for limited purposes such as forest preservation and oil exploitation.
Source: Xinhuanet 01/19/2003

New Container CT Screening System Developed
Researchers at the Nuclear Energy Technology and Design Institute attached to Tsinghua University have developed a container computerized tomography (CT) screening system capable of distinguishing between substances such as sugar and cocaine, gasoline and water. The new system, which is called cobalt 60 container computerized tomography screening system, works on similar principles as the computerized tomography system widely used in hospitals, by revolving around a container and taking photographs of every section profile and determining the contents according to the photos. However, the cobalt 60 container CT screening system, which is different from the currently widely used container screening system that can only give overlapping pictures of the contents, can accurately distinguish narcotics and explosives from physically similar objects. It is believed that this invention will be of great help to customs officials.
Source: People's Daily 01/18/2003

Permanent North Pole Station to Be Built This Year
China will build the first scientific survey station at the North Pole this year so that Chinese scientists can be stationed there all year around to conduct research related to the Arctic Zone. The project is currently under the supervision of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA). China once built a temporary research base at the North Pole, but has not built a permanent one.
Source: People's Daily 01/18/2003

Train for Beijing's Light Railway Introduced
The first passenger train, especially designed for Beijing's light railway, has rolled off production line in Changchun, capital of northeastern Jilin province. The train can reach a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The Changchun company will produce 136 of these trains for Beijing. The first passenger train will run on Beijing's present light rail system, stretching 40.85 kilometers from Xizhimen station to Dongzhimen station. Construction on the project began in 1999 and the 20.61-km-long west section of the urban railway system, from Xizhimen station to Huoying station, opened in late September 2002. The whole line is expected to go into operation on January 28 this year.
Beijing boasts 54 km of subway. The total length of subway and light railway in operation is expected to reach 300 km by 2008.
Source: Xinhuanet 01/16/2003

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