China's Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense issued a circular on Monday granting private businesses access to the military industry.

Private businesses will be allowed to invest in military infrastructure construction, conduct scientific research for national defense projects and weaponry production, participate in the regrouping of military firms and cooperate with military firms to develop technology for military and civilian use.

The move aims to facilitate a better use of government outlay for national defense and take advantage of private firms' financial and technological resources, said the circular.

To enter the military industry, private enterprises will have to acquire security, quality and production safety certification.

China has been gradually removing the long-standing monopoly of state capital on its military industry since 2005 when private firms were allowed to produce unimportant military products.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2007)