China will push forward an international cooperation plan on new-generation clean energy, a senior official said on Thursday.

Chinese Vice-Minister of Science and Technology Shang Yong said that China would play a leading role in a multinational project on new-generation clean energy involving China and 30 other countries and regions.

He made the remarks at the opening of the International Forum on Globalization of Research and Development.

China has already participated in a number of international cooperation programs regarding electricity generation and fourth-generation nuclear energy, according to Shang.

"The move is an important step in China's efforts to become an innovation-driven nation," said Shang.

China will also make use of the global R&D resources to develop science and technology, he said.

He noted that China would carry out inter-government cooperation in fields such as energy, resources, environment, biology and agriculture, and encourage local enterprises to participate in international cooperation in the fields of information technology, new material development and modern manufacturing.

China will also help higher education institutes forge ties with their foreign counterparts on high-technology and will attract overseas talents with preferential policies.

Statistics showed that in the fields of science and technology, China had exchanges with 152 countries and regions and signed 99 inter-government agreements. Over the past five years, 270,000 foreign scientists came to China and 260,000 Chinese scientists went overseas.

Shang stressed that the Chinese government would strengthen its role as an intermediary for cooperation between R&D institutions and businesses.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2006)