Basic Researchs Share in R&D Funding Grew

After remaining at five percent for years， the share for basic research in Chinas total allotted funds for scientific and technological research and development rose above six percent in 2020 for the first time. According to Chinas Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang， the central budget doubled funding for basic research during the 2016-2020 period， leading to remarkable advances in the fields of material science， quantum science， nanoscience， and life science. In addition to this， 13 applied mathematics centers were also established. This year the central government will increase its expenditures on basic research by 10.6 percent， and continue to do so over the coming years.

China Schedules to Put the Worlds First 200，000 KW HTGR into Operation

In a recent interview with the media， Qian Tianlin， a manager of China National Nuclear Corporation （CNNC）， disclosed that his company will start to put spherical fuel elements into the 200，000 kilowatt high-temperature gascooled reactor （HTGR） it is building， the first of its kind in the world， in April， and then introduce it into commercial operation to generate electricity by the end of this year. This represents an important step in advancing the application of Chinas fourth-generation nuclear power technology.

HTGR is deemed an advanced model with broad prospects in the nuclear power industry. The 200，000 kilowatt reactor of CNNC was developed on the basis of a 10 megawatt high-temperature gas-cooled reactor test module. To maintain a leading position in the field of HTGR technology， China plans to complete the research and development of supercritical HTGR technology by 2023.

Rail Investment in the Yangtze Delta Expected to Top RMB 75 Billion

According to China Railway， investment in railways in the Yangtze River Delta is expected to exceed RMB 75 billion for 2021， and new lines totaling 833 kilometers will open to traffic within the year.

This year marks the start of Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan period， and the rail sector has already gotten off to a strong start. A total of 11 new lines will be launched within the year. Six key projects will be completed this year， and the construction work on 20 more railways will continue.

During the 2021-2025 period， total investment in railways in the region is expected to top RMB 1 trillion， and operational railway mileage will increase by 4，000 kilometers， among which 3，500 kilometers will be designated for high-speed lines.