The Ministry of Science and Technology will widen the scope of the Torch Plan -- the flagship programme aimed at developing advanced technology and upgrading traditional industries.

Government departments will help high-tech firms market their products overseas by setting up technology and industrial parks abroad, Zhao Yuhai -- director of the ministry's Torch High-Tech Industry Development Centre -- told China Daily. The Torch Plan was initiated in August 1988 to raise the productivity of traditional industries and nurture high-tech industries.

The country set up three technology and industrial parks last year in Russia, Singapore and the United States. Several Chinese high-tech companies have established themselves in the three parks and started to develop products that are competitive in world markets, according to Zhao.

Ministry sources said China is planning to build more technology and industrial estates in Britain, Egypt, India and Viet Nam to incubate high-tech firms.

Administrative departments in high-tech industrial development zones will provide more policy services for companies instead of meddling in their management and business, the sources said.

Zhao said government departments should develop favourable conditions to cultivate financing, legislation and advisory agencies to help high-tech firms make scientific decisions.

The Torch Plan has played a vital role in fostering China's high-tech industries and spurring regional economic and social development. Under the plan, 22 State-level computer software centres have been set up.

The 22 centres registered an export volume of US$450 million last year, up 115 per cent over 2001, the ministry said.

Under the plan, 53 national high-tech industrial development zones have been built to spur regional economic growth.

In Beijing, for example, 60 per cent of the increase in gross domestic product has come from the capital's development of high-tech industry.

Last year, high-tech firms in the 53 development zones exported US$9.54 billion of computers, telecommunications and other high-tech products to the United States, making up nearly 40 per cent of China's total exports of high-tech products.

(China Daily July 30, 2003)