Chinese science and technology staff has totaled 21.74 million, ranking No.1 in the world. Among them are 1.2 million researchers, according to news from the 7th national conference of the China Association for Science and Technology.

Zhou Guangzhao, president of China Association for Science and Technology said notable changes on structure have taken place in Chinese science and technology workers as the reform of science and technology system is deepened.

The ratio of senior talents has kept on increasing, with scientists and engineers accounting for 80 percent. The change in age structure was also obvious. Young and middle-aged talents below 45-year-old make up 70 percent of China's sci-tech arms.

Notwithstanding the huge bulk of the science and technology workers, senior talents are still in short supply. Strategic scientists who are capable to participate in international competition are rare. The sharp contrast deserves attention from related departments.

Only 2.26 percent of the 158 international top level scientific organizations and 1,566 2nd level organizations have Chinese scientists join their leadership. Only one Chinese scientist takes presidency of a top-level scientific organization. And only 1 percent of chiefs of the second level international science organizations are Chinese scientists.

(People's Daily May 26, 2006)