China approves science infrastructure plan

BEIJING - The State Council, or the central government, has approved a plan on infrastructure construction for major science and technology projects for the next two decades.

According to a statement released Wednesday after an executive meeting of the State Council, the Medium- and Long-Term (2012-2030) Plan on Infrastructure Construction for China's Major Science and Technology Projects aims to boost China's innovation capability, support major science and technology breakthroughs and accelerate infrastructure construction for major projects.

The plan, focusing on cutting-edge research and the country's major strategic demands, highlights seven major fields, including energy, life, Earth systems and environments, materials, particle and nuclear physics, space and astronomy and engineering technology.

The plan gives priority to 16 projects, such as setting up a deep-sea scientific observation network, as well as building high-precision gravity reading and research devices, the statement said.

According to the meeting, which was chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, more efforts will be made to increase investment and create a system that enables coordinated innovation and resource-sharing in order to boost the efficiency of major infrastructure projects.

The State Council also decided to make amendments to two regulations regarding the enforcement of Copyright Law and the protection of the right to information network dissemination. Another two regulations on the protection of computer software and new plant species will also be amended.

According to the statement, the decisions were made to intensify a crackdown on intellectual copyright infringement, as well as combat the manufacture and sale counterfeit products.

The State Council also decided to offer one-off living allowances to more than 89 million needy people before the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb 10 this year. The statement did not offer a precise amount for the allowances.