According to statistics provided by the Ministry of Commerce, the number of contracts registered for technology imports in China was 8,112 in the first three quarters of this year. The total value of these contracts was US$17.95 billion, which represents an increase of 45.2 percent from the same period last year. The technical fees were $11.55 billion, accounting for 64.3 percent of the total amount of the contract. Technology imports continue to grow substantially.

The turnover of proprietary technology licensing contracts totaled $5.58 billion in the first three quarters, an increase of 57.5 percent from the same period last year, and accounting for 31.1 percent of the total contract amount. The capital involved in joint ventures contracts and jointly provided technical consultation and services amounted to $4.05 billion and $3.72 billion respectively, accounting for 20.7 percent and 22.5 percent of the total amount of technology transfer.

The EU was the largest source of China's technology imports in the first three quarters of this year. China signed 1990 technology import contracts with the EU with the total value exceeding $7.54 billion, an increase of 32 percent from the same period last year, and accounting for 42 percent of China's total technology import contracts. Japan and the United States had the second and third highest number of contracts, valued at the amount of $4.45 billion and $2.89 billion respectively, accounting for 24.8 percent and 16.1 percent of China's technology import contracts.

Foreign-funded enterprises have signed $8.69 billion worth of contracts, an increase of 49 percent, which accounts for 48.4 percent of China's technology import contracts. State-owned enterprises have contracts valued at $8.04 billion, an increase of 55.4 percents, which accounts for 44.8 percent of the amount of technology import contracts.

Of the total contract amount, $3.98 billion was spent by the railway industry. The railway transport industry is still recording the largest imports of technology and the most rapid growth. The import of electronics and telecommunications technology continues to grow at high speed with spending exceeding $3.49 billion, an increase of 123.7 percent. The contract value of technology imports for the transportation industry reached $1.48 billion.

By People's Daily Online