China Approves Support Plan for Electronics and Information Industry

China approved Wednesday a support plan for the country's electronics and information industry.

The government will boost innovation, increase financial input and promote the use of information technologies in various fields in the next three years, according to an executive meeting of the State Council, or the Cabinet. The meeting was chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao.

Attendees at the meeting agreed that the central government's policy to boost domestic demand must be implemented in a bid to offset weakening global demand.

Investment will focus on boosting the progress of the 3G (third-generation) mobile communication services and promoting the use of digital TVs.

Efforts will be made towards developing national science and technology projects and towards improving public technological service platforms.

Attendees also agreed to promote outsourcing and to encourage electronics and information enterprises to go overseas and build research and development centers, production bases and marketing networks.

More policy support would be given to the sector, including the adjustment of recognition standards for high-tech enterprises and tax rebates for electronics and information product exports.

Support plans for the auto, steel, shipbuilding, textile and machinery- manufacturing industries have already been announced.