The Ministry of Commerce plans to build a total of 100 export-oriented innovation bases by the year 2010, which will be a platform to nurture self-developed high technologies and the re-invention of imported technologies.

The move is part of the ministry's strategy of bolstering trade through science and technology. It aims to optimize the structure of China's export commodities and transform the growth model of the country's foreign trade.

The bases will, for instance, absorb foreign investment in high value-added manufacturing sectors, high-tech industries and the modern service sector.

"It is expected that by the year 2010, there will be 100 such innovation bases, and they will contribute 70 percent of China's total export of high-tech products," the ministry said yesterday.

The 100 innovation bases will cover fields like information technology, pharmaceutical, software, new materials, fine chemical, marine industry, and production of automobiles and auto components.

They will be built upon existing export-oriented bases, the ministry said.

The country has established 25 national export bases of high-tech products, 15 national export bases of medical products and six national software export bases.

The Ministry of Commerce said it will offer capital supports in export innovation, international market entrance and technical issues for export for these bases.

The ministry will also foster a group of Chinese brands in high-tech sectors, conduct a series of technology upgrades and R&D programs, support 100 large-scale enterprises and 1,000 exported-oriented companies focused in self-development and innovation.

It will also work out technological guidelines for export commodities and set up service centres.

The Chinese Government carried out the strategy of bolstering trade through science and technology in 1999 and has since made great progresses.

Trade of high-tech products had a rapid increase during the past few years, driving the growth of the country's foreign trade.

In 2005, total imports and exports of high-tech products amounted to US$416 billion, up 27.2 percent year-on-year and accounting for 29.2 percent of the country's total foreign trade volume.

Export of high-tech products during the year totaled US$218.25, an increase of US$52.71 compared with that of 2004.

China has seen a monthly trade surplus in high-tech products for 15 consecutive months from October 2004.

Last year, trade surplus for high-tech products reached US$20.54 billion, five times that of 2004.

The United States, Hong Kong and the European Union were the top three importers of high-tech products from the Chinese mainland.

(China Daily February 24, 2006)