China on Sunday issued a five-year program (2006-2010) on international cooperation in science and technology and promised to open up further to foreign partners.

 

The program states that except those concerning national security or with special requests China's key national scientific and technological projects and funds would be open to overseas partners.

 

Scientific institutions, universities and key national laboratories are required to expand cooperation and exchanges with foreign counterparts, according to the program.

 

China will also encourage and help enterprises and research institutions to set up overseas research and development agencies for further development by "using international scientific and technology resources," says the program.  

 

China will "actively" participate in key international scientific projects, join world scientific organizations and encourage Chinese scientists to work with them, the program states.  

 

It says the moves are aimed at increasing China's possession or its reasonable share of intellectual property rights internationally and improving its status in the world science arena.

 

China also hopes to bolster its high-tech industry and boost export of such products through cooperation.

 

The program listed a number of areas as priorities for cooperation including clean energy development, environmental protection, HIV/AIDS treatment, responses to newly identified infectious and chronic diseases, nanoscience and aeronautic and astronautic technology.