China invented smelting and casting techniques of pig iron in the fifth century BC, leading Europe by more than 2,000 years, said an expert with the metallurgical and material history research institute under Beijing University of Science and Technology.

China began to smelt and cast pig iron in the fifth century BC, techniques Europe did not master until the Renaissance, said Han Rufen, former director of the institute.

The conclusion was drawn from research on unearthed ironware, including shovels from a cement factory in Luoyang City in central China's Henan Province and shovels in ancient tombs in Changsha City in central China's Hunan Province.

Dr. Li Yanxiang, a research fellow at the institute, said compass, gunpowder, paper-making and printing are the four greatest scientific inventions in ancient China in terms of their contribution to western civilization.

Li also said that in terms of contribution to Chinese civilization, iron and steel smelting and casting ranked first in the great inventions.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2004)