BIOTECHNOLOGY, first heard of in China some 30 years ago, has developed into a big industry in the country.

　In 2000, the industry made sales worth 20 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion), compared with 260 million yuan in 1986.

　The Central Government invests 2.25 billion yuan in biotechnology every year, according to Zhu Zhen, director of the Institute of Biology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

　He said China was a world leader in developing the so-called super crossbred paddy rice with yields increased by 15-25 percent, compared with the existing crossbred species. From 2000-2001, the country planted the super paddy on 200,000 hectares.

　In China, five genetically modified plants have been officially approved. Now genetically-modified plants are grown on 700,000 hectares in the country, ranking it fourth in the world in terms of acreage.

　Currently, over 60 companies are allowed to produce drugs developed through genetic engineering. Eighteen drugs using biomedical technology have been officially sanctioned for use in hospitals.