Chinese meteorologists on Wednesday said the development of China's own climate system model was crucial to its national security strategy.

Climate changes and related earth systems have had negative effects on human beings and have aroused great attention from the decision makers and the general public, said Zheng Guoguang, researcher and deputy director of the China Meteorological Administration.

Climate study is not only a scientific matter but also a matter of environment, economy, politics and national security. The faster the climate system model was developed, the sooner it could serve the country, said Chou Jifan, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

China's present climate system model would take five to ten years to catch up with the international advanced level, said Dong Wenjie, researcher with the National Climate Center.

The government should set up a special fund for the climate system model and improve the academic environment and computing abilities, Dong noted.

China's climate system model should be made by joint efforts of all related departments. More cooperation and exchanges were needed, said Fu Qiang, professor with the Department of Atmospheric Sciences of the University of Washington.

The experts agreed that the government should enhance study on climate changes and give preferential policies to the development of China's own climate system model. The climate system model should be considered as a part of the national emergency response system.

About 50 experts and university professors were speaking at the 87th Forum of Chinese Young Scientists held by the China Association for Science and Technology on Tuesday and Wednesday. The topic was "Climate system model and strategy to cope with climate changes".

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2004)