The Chinese government is to allocate 250 million yuan in financial support to 30 basic scientific research programs.

The 30 projects were declared at the launch of a series of national basic scientific research programs, held by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday in Beijing.

The programs include research on glacier resources and changes in China, a survey on the characteristics of mental development of teenagers, and research into agricultural biotic resources in Yunnan and adjacent areas.

The government attaches great importance to basic scientific research. A platform of basic research programs and basic research conditions was established since 1999.

In 2006, with support of the Ministry of Finance, a special project was launched with respect to basic scientific works. The project focuses on the weak points of basic researches, including scientific investigation and the comprehensive processing of scientific data.

However, basic scientific research requires longer periods of time before results can be seen in terms of papers and patents. The country still faces the lack of effective and stable supports with respect to basic research.

Basic scientific research provides resources for further scientific research and technological developments. They play an importance role in the country's scientific progress, its social and economic development, as well as its national security.

(CRI February 9, 2007)