Over 100 billion yuan invested in research and development

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 ◆ Over 100 billion yuan invested in research and development

Statistics from an official report show that over 100 billion yuan (about 13 billion US dollars) was spent on scientific research and development (R&D) in China last year.

A report on China's scientific and technological expenditure, jointly released recently by the National Statistics Bureau, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance, says that expenditure on R&D was 104.3 billion yuan, 14.7 billion yuan more than the previous year and equaling 1.1 percent of China's gross domestic product in 2001.

R&D capability is a pivotal index to a nation's scientific and technological power.

The report shows that 68.4 percent of the R&D money went to the coastal provinces and municipalities in China, such as Shanghai, Guangdong, and Shandong.

The report also indicates that the Chinese government has strengthened financial support for the country's scientific and technological development. In 2001, the Chinese government contributed 70.3 billion yuan, 12.8 billion yuan more than the previous year and accounting for 3.7 percent of the national expenditure.