Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng promised to increase the city's capacity for innovation at a press conference yesterday after the annual session of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress (MPC).

Answering a reporter's question on the problems Shenzhen faces in building an innovative city, the mayor said Shenzhen is facing a shortage of high-level universities, research institutions, talented personnel and key science and technology projects.

"We will further increase investment on R&D (research and development) and education. The municipal and district governments will spend over 10 billion yuan (US$1.23 billion) on science and technology in the next five years," said Xu, who also promised to set aside 200 million yuan to award innovators annually.

The city will build more institutions of higher learning, research institutions, laboratories, and cultivate local talent. It will also enhance cooperation with research institutions and universities in other mainland cities and in Hong Kong, said Xu.

Xu held the press conference after the conclusion of the five-day annual MPC session, where the city's lawmakers approved the mayor's government work report and the draft of the new five-year program.

The 2006 budget report received 312 votes out of 327, and the work reports of the intermediate people's court and the city procuratorate were also approved by the MPC deputies.

At the press conference, Xu also addressed issues of public concern like housing prices, medical reforms, Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation, transportation, and population.

Meanwhile, the annual session of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) closed Friday.

(Shenzhen Daily March 27, 2006)