China Science & Technology Digest:
August 1-15, 2003

ATIP

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

China to Build Largest Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong
China has decided to build its largest nuclear power plant in Yangjiang, a city in the Southern province of Guangdong. The gross investment in the project will amount to 8 billion US dollars, and the plant is expected to begin production within 15 to 20 years. The power plant will have six generators with an installed capacity of six million kilowatts. The construction will begin next year.
Source: Xinhuanet 08/15/2003

Alarm System to Help Spaceship Avoid Debris
Shenzhou V, due to become China's first manned spaceship when it is launched this autumn, will be equipped with an alarm system to avoid collisions in space. The alarm system will keep the spacecraft away from the orbit of space debris by automatically changing its propulsion and speed. The Center for Space Science and Applied Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has been keeping a close watch over 9,131 traceable pieces of space debris to screen those that are most likely to get in the way of the spaceship. Space debris refers to artificial objects or fragments cast off in space, whether deliberately or unintentionally. Since the former Soviet Union sent the first craft into space in 1957, more than 26,000 objects have been sent into space by humankind. There are now a total of 9,131 traceable debris objects in space, together with a large quantity of smaller pieces, moving at great speed.
Source: China Daily 08/11/2003

Chinese Scientists Decode New Hepatitis B Virus Genes
Chinese scientists have decoded two new genes found in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome. A research team at the No. 302 Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army found the new genes after cloning and analyzing the gene sequencing of HBV taken from blood of HBV patients in China. For the past 25 years, scientists have believed that HBV genome contained four open reading frames. The new discovery brings the number of open reading frames to six.
Source: People’s Daily 08/15/2003

China's Leading Academy Establishes Mobile Communications Research Center
The Chinese Academy of Sciences, the country's largest research institution, has launched a mobile communications research center (MCR) in Shanghai to improve the country's research and development capability in mobile communications technology. Located in Zhangjiang High-tech Zone in Pudong District, staff at the center have designed 50 different concept mobile phones capable of fingerprint recognition as well as business card scanning. The center was established by the Institute of Computing Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which developed the country's high-performance computers, servers, and other electronic products. China's largest computer organization, the Lenovo Group, previously known as the Legend Group, was a spin-off of the institute.
Source: Xinhuanet 08/09/2003

China Reports Progress in Lunar Prospecting Satellite Research
China has completed plans for a lunar prospecting satellite and has now begun to work on sample designs. The China Research Institute of Space Technology is in charge of the program and has made a number of breakthroughs, including ultraviolet sensors and specialized satellite antennas. China began working on designs for the lunar prospecting satellite in April last year, and ten key task teams have been assigned to undertake research and development. The lunar prospecting program is considered the first crucial step for China to carry out exploration in the far outer space.
Source: China Daily 08/05/2003

Suzhou Becomes World's Leading Notebook PC Production Center
Suzhou, about 100 km from Shanghai, has become the largest laptop computer production center in the world with an annual output close to 10 million units, which represents about one quarter of the world's total. The top nine computer companies in Taiwan have opened factories in Suzhou, including Uniwell Compute Corp., Acer Inc., and Mitac International Corp. Uniwell's overall production capacity in Suzhou is close to 1 million units per year. Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co. also plans to locate its notebook computer production line in Suzhou, with a target output of half a million units a year.
Source: Xinhuanet 08/05/2003

Patented High-Tech Products Expo to Open in September
The Fourth China Patented High-tech Products Exposition will be held from September 22 to 24 in Qufu City, in East China's Shandong Province. During the event, over 1,000 experts, professors, and patent holders will display their products while a series of seminars will be held. The expo is co-sponsored by the State Intellectual Property Office, the Academy of Engineering of China, and the Shandong Provincial Government. A total of 4,800 patented new and high technology products were displayed during the previous three expositions, with more than 1,000 contracts and agreements signed.
Source: People’s Daily 08/04/2003

Chongqing to Hold High-Tech Fair
The Fifth Chongqing High-Tech Fair will be held in the Southwestern municipality from November 15 to 19. The fair will particularly focus on the information technology sector and the civil application of military technology. Russia will send a delegation on the civil application of military technology to the fair. In addition, the Eighth Chongqing Investment and Trade Fair will also be held from September 15 to 19.
Source: China Daily 08/15/2003

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