Deng Nan, vice-chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), said on Thursday in Beijing that China needs to further upgrade its ability in self-innovation and becomes more creative in scientific research and development.

Addressing the country's first forum on building a well-off society, Deng said about 50 percent of technologies used in China are imported from abroad. Besides, 60 percent of key equipment were imported from abroad.

The key to building a well-off society lies in the training of talent. "We have to change our concept from concentrating on the development of natural resources to the development of human resources," Deng said.

As China is incapable of developing core technologies, 20 percent of the retail price of China-made cell phone, and 30 percent of the price of a computer, have to be paid to foreign patent holders.

In a state mid-term and long-term scientific and technological development program due to be published by CAST soon, Deng said, China aims to embark on the road of promoting economic development and social progress via development of advanced science and technology by the year 2020.

Source: Xinhua