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

ATIP

This digest summarizes S&T-related articles that appeared in the media ATIP monitored in the second half of March 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.

IT Products Continue to Grow
According to the Ministry of Information Industry (MII), investment-orientated products, especially computers and telecom equipment, increased sharply in the first two months of 2003. The growth of computers and telecom equipment rose by 46 percent and 36 percent in the past two months of this year. China produced 2.95 million computers in January and February and sold 2.97 million units. The production of handsets reached 24.1 million units of which approx. 92 percent were sold. According to the MII, industrial output of the electronic and information industry reached 290 billion yuan (approx. US$35 billion) in the first two months of 2003, which is up 31 percent from last year. State-owned enterprises recorded a 36 percent growth rate, compared to 31 percent from foreign-invested companies.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 03/27/2003

China to Establish Nano Science Center
China will invest 250 million yuan (approx. US$30.2 million) to establish a national nano science center, which will be supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Peking University, and Tsinghua University. The nano center will mainly focus on nano processing and nano devices, important nano materials and nano structure, nano applications in medical and life sciences, as well as presentation methods and technology of nano structure and function.
Source: People's Daily 03/25/2003

First Nano Science Park Breaks Ground in Northwest China
China's first nanoscience park is under construction in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A Taiwanese company has invested 1.2 billion yuan (approx. US$146 million) in the park, which will cover 67 hectares in an economic zone. The construction of the first phase of the project is expected to be completed in two years. The park aims to promote nanometric scientific research and development by establishing a nanometric production base and training personnel in nano-technology.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 03/24/2003

Shanghai to Build National Bio-Chip Research Center
Construction of a national bio-chip research center has begun in Shanghai's Medicine Valley, in the Pudong District's Zhangjiang hi-tech park. Covering 40,000 square meters, the center is expected to be a world-class bio-chip research and manufacturing base upon completion at the end of this year, at a cost of 290 million yuan (approx. US$34.9 million). The center will develop a technology platform for medically-applicable chips of genes, proteins, tissues, and cells. The center is expected to generate an annual output of 820,000 bio-chips applicable in the fields of clinical prescription, new medicine development, and environmental protection.
Source: People's Daily 03/30/2003

China Develops World's First Gas-Powered Air-Conditioner for Household Use
A new type of gas-powered air conditioner for household use, the first of its kind in worldwide, has been developed in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province. In cooperation with more than one hundred air-conditioner plants across the world, the Changsha-based BROAD Air Conditioning Co. Ltd., has invested 110 million yuan (approx. US$13.3 million) in the development of this new product. The new air conditioner is designed to be powered by natural gas, coal gas, or liquefied petroleum gas, with an expected operation life of fifteen years. It also serves as a water heater. Compared with the traditional air conditioner powered by electricity, the gas-powered conditioner uses lithium bromide as coolant, and is thus more environment-friendly.
Source: People's Daily 03/20/2003

China Develops New Machine to Treat Tumors
A new medical instrument, the Super Gamma System, for the treatment of tumors has been developed by Chinese scientists. The System is the first machine with gamma stereotactic radio-therapy in the world to treat both brain and body cancers. The new machine was developed by Shenzhen Hyper Technology Company and Shenzhen Jiancheng Investment Company.
Source: People's Daily 03/30/2003

China Develops Artificial Bone with Nanotechnology
After six years of research, a group of scientists from Tsinghua University in Beijing have developed a new type of artificial bone using nanotechnology. The man-made bone, dubbed the "Nano bone", is different from traditional therapies in that the artificial structure planted in the human body disintegrates gradually over a period of time. Once the artificial bone is implanted, the human bone corpuscle grows and "scrambles" into the man-made biological structure. The bone-dissolving corpuscle then "consumes" the artificial bone, and the bone-forming corpuscle builds up the new human bone, step by step. Eventually, the entire artificial implant is absorbed by the human body and replaced by human bone corpuscle.
China has 250,000 patients annually who require bone repair following the removal of bone tumors. In the past, artificial bones were made of metal, ceramic materials, and macromolecular materials.
Source: People's Daily 03/29/2003

Mainland China & Taiwan Jointly Sequence Genome of Salmonella Chorellaeresuis
Scientists from Mainland China and Taiwan have succeeded in sequencing the genome of Salmonella Chorellaeresuis. The sequencing of the bacteria's genome revealed 4.9 million base pairs and about 5,000 genes. Salmonella Chorellaeresuis is a major cause of intestinal diseases. Of the 16 million people who fall ill annually from Salmonella Chorellaeresuis, 600,000 die.
Source: People's Daily 03/30/2003

China and US Jointly Research New Regional Jet
The China Aviation Industry Corporation Commercial Aircraft Company (ACAC) and General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEAE) of the United States are jointly developing a new branch-line of jet plane. The new aircraft, named ARJ21, is expected to be completed before the 2008 Olympic Games, and to supply China's domestic market. GEAE is developing the CF34-10A engine for the ARJ21 aircraft. Over the past decade, GEAE has invested more than one billion US dollars to develop the CF34 engine line up. To date, more than 5,600 CF34 engines have been on order, including more than 1,500 in service worldwide.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 03/28/ 2003

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