China Science & Technology Digest:
November 15-30, 2004

ATIP

This digest summarizes S&T-related articles that appeared in the media ATIP monitored in the second half of November 2004. 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.

Fastest Super Computer Put into Operation
The fastest super computer in China, Dawning 4000A, which operates at a speed of 11 trillion calculations per second (TFLOPs), was officially started at Shanghai Supercomputer Center (SSC) on November 15, 2004. China has now become the third country (after the US and Japan) to develop computers with a peak speed of over10TFLOPs.
Dawning 4000A was jointly developed by the Institute of Computer Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Dawning Corporation, and Shanghai Supercomputer Center. It was ranked 10th on the list of world's top high-performance computers on the Top 500 list released in June.
Source: People's Daily 11/16/2004

China Signs Milestone IT Deal with India
China signed a landmark agreement in New Delhi for collaboration in information technology. The two countries have also created the first joint steering committee for scientific cooperation, and its first meeting is scheduled to take place in Beijing next year.
Source: CRI 11/22/2004

Lenovo launches First 13.1-inch Wide-Screen PC
Lenovo has developed what is claimed to be the world's first 13.1-inch wide-screen collaborative laptop PC, Tianyi Y200. Tianyi Y200 integrates popular broadband applications such as video communication, interactive video applications and online payments with collaborative applications among various digital home appliances. The unique 13.1-inch LCD is said to provide a better picture than the existing 12-inch PCs; it is slimmer and lighter than 14-inch PCs with a weight of two kilograms and a battery supporting over four hours of working time. All FPD used on the laptop is made and imported from overseas.
The Y200 comes in four configurations, and prices range from 10,499 to 13,699 yuan (approx. US$1,269 to 1,655).
Source: Shenzhen Daily 11/17/2004

China Ranks First at FVC2004
The Chinese team, made up of experts from the Institute of Automation affiliated to CAS and the Beijing Digital Fingerprint Co., have won the first place at the International Fingerprint Verification Contest-2004 (FVC2004) among institutional competitors. The event attracted the participation of more than 40 competitors from different countries. It is explained that the current fingerprint testing methods applied in the world have to go through FVC for a professional pass. FVC2004 sets two competition modes: open and light. Light is a limited mode, while open is an open-ended mode with more practical applications. Both China’s open and light algorithms ranked fifth place in fingerprint testing business, and first place for institutional ranking. China received 5 gold medals, 7 silver medals, and 7 copper medals in the contest.
Source: WWW.CISC.NET 11/18/2004

China to Launch 100 Satellites by 2020
China plans to launch over 100 satellites before 2020 to form a global earth observation system with satellites launched by other nations. Systematic observations of the earth include that of the atmosphere, water, land, mining resources, water resources, and the ecosystem. No single country or international organization can provide complete observations of all these areas, but combining observation platforms of many countries enables all nations to share information. In April 2004, 44 nations and 26 international organizations formally approved the establishment of a global earth observation system.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 11/18/2004

Broadcasting Satellite to Be Launched in 2006
China plans to launch a satellite for broadcasting service in the first half of 2006. The satellite is expected to provide service to 260 million Chinese families. China has about 360 million households, 100 million of which now receive cable TV programs; the rest will be a potential audience of satellite broadcasting. Currently, the country forbids individuals to receive satellite TV programs through their own satellite receivers.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 11/23/2004

Unmanned Lunar Probe May Be Sent in 13 Years
China is now capable of probing the moon and will complete an unmanned lunar probe program in 13 years. The program will be carried out in three major stages: A moon orbiting probe, soft landing vehicles and moon roamers, and an automatic lunar sampling and return to Earth.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 11/22/2004

China Builds Asia's Largest Solar Photovoltaic Station
The largest solar photovoltaic station in Asia has been installed at Shenzhen's international horticulture and flower exhibition garden. With an investment of 61.88 million yuan (approx. US$7.4 million) by Shenzhen municipal government, the power station was started by Beijing Corona Science and Technology Co., Ltd under the Chinese Academy of Sciences from last February and put into operation in August. With a total capacity of one MWp (Mega Watt peak), the station has a power generation ability of about one million Kilo-watt-hours and will remain competent for 20 years.
Source: People's Daily 11/25/2004

Anti-Cancer Treatment Begins Clinical Trials
A treatment developed by Chinese scientists to control and even kill cancer cells has been approved for clinical research in Shanghai hospitals. The therapy seeks to trigger the body's own immune system to detect and kill cancerous tissue. It may prove particularly useful in treating liver cancer. The treatment involves a technology to fuse the patient's own cancer cells with a strain of antigen cells. Clinical research conducted in several countries has shown that such treatments can be effective in halting tumor growth, preventing relapse, and overcoming the side effects of other therapies.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 11/23/2004

China Develops New Diagnostic Reagent for SARS
China has begun to batch-produce a new gene-based reagent capable of rapidly diagnosing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The Henan Provincial Bio-Engineering Technology Research Center, the Viral Disease Prevention and Control Institute of the China Center for Disease Control (CDC), and Huamei Bio-Engineering Company jointly developed the reagent. It is said to be able to monitor 50 variations of the SARS virus under any conditions. In addition to clinical diagnosis and virus identification, the reagent can also be used to assess the effect of vaccines, clinical blood tests, surveys of epidemics, and effectiveness of treatment.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 11/23/2004

Robots to Tackle Air Pollution
A robot will soon be used in Shanghai for cleaning up indoor air pollution, which has become a major source of concern for many residents. The robot is said to be able to purify poisonous fumes, such as formaldehyde. It can also filter tiny particles from the air, such as those caused by cigarette smoking. The robot, working like a dust collector, can emit negative ions to absorb toxic particles in the air while consuming very little electric power.
Source: Shanghai Daily 11/24/2004

Honeywell Launches New R&D Facility
Diversified US manufacturer Honeywell opened a new research and development (R&D) center and Asia-Pacific headquarters in the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park in Pudong of Shanghai. As the second R&D center of Honeywell outside United States, this center will serve all of the company’s business and development around the world. This new complex represents an investment of nearly US$80 million and occupies some 15,000 square meters. Honeywell now boasts annual revenues of approximately US$500 million in China.
Source: China Daily 11/22/2004

IT Firms to Attend CeBIT in Hannover in 2005
Leading Chinese IT and electronic companies expect to attend the CeBIT, an information and communications technology fair that will be held in Hannover, Germany, in March 2005. The 241 companies from the Chinese mainland will be the third largest group, following companies from Germany and the Taiwan Province. Chinese mainland companies will bring to the fair the latest products of mobile communication facilities as well as consumer electronic products and computers, including LCD televisions, notebook computers, and communication software.
China has become a leading IT and electronic product manufacturer. The industry reported sales revenues of 1.88 trillion yuan (approx. US$227.34 billion) in the first nine months of this year in the Chinese mainland.
Source: Xinhua News Agency 11/19/2004

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