China will take further measures to improve higher education to further develop key disciplines, the government said on Wednesday.

The representatives heard a report on the development of the "211 project" at a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao. In the early 1990s, China initiated the project for higher education aimed at cultivating talent for national economic and social development strategies in the 21st century.

The project focused on the development of around 100 key universities to cultivate talent adaptable to the new needs of the 21st century.

Representatives acknowledged the achievements made by the project during the past decade and agreed to further its following construction to improve China's higher education.

"We need to further develop the key disciplines and try to upgrade them to international levels," a statement released by the meeting said.

"More efforts need to enhance the quality of teaching staff and nurture a group of leading figures in these key disciplines.

"We also need to strengthen supervision of academic projects review and intensify the audit of funds allocated for scientific projects to guarantee the proper use of the funds," it said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2008)