The Introduction about the Information Service Industry in China
Mr. Liang Zhanping, Deputy Director General, ISTIC

Mr. Zhanping gave a brief account of the present situation of China and new changes of ISTIC. He gave some important data about the economic growth & social development on gross domestic product, inflation rate, state foreign exchange resources, trade volume and international tourism. He spoke about China's problems and difficulties encountered in the course of economic development such as :

• The economy has grown largely by means of extensive cooperation. Consumption of energy and raw materials is wasteful, turnover of funds is slow, and product lack competitiveness in the market.

• Problems of overlapping building construction projects in different regions.

• The agricultural production frequently suffers natural calamities - droughts and floods.

• A certain number of state-owned enterprises are experiencing difficulties in production and operation and losses are on the rise. There was increase in the number of enterprises, which suspended production completely or partially, causing an increase in unemployment.

• Corruption and other undesirable phenomena remain serious problems.

• China's science and technology and education do not meet the needs for modernization drive.

• To control population growth, improve quality of the population, optimize births, bring up children and make cultural education universal was an arduous task.

• State finance is confronted with considerable difficulties. It is an important task for the central government to try every means to increase revenue, reduce deficits and control the scale of debts.

• Poor public security in some area.

The strategy of China's development is as follows:

• Strive to open wider to the outside world. It is necessary to actively participate in international economic cooperation and competition, further develop an open economy, use the comparative advantages of China's economy to improve competitiveness and to better link and complement with the international economy.

• Try to optimize the industrial structure by concentration on consolidating the farming sector, readjusting and upgrading the tertiary industry.

He also talked about ISTIC and its new changes as given below:

• China Informart (CIM) in ISTIC was formally put into operation and open to the public last October. It covers a total area of 13000 m². There are several information premises in CIM, including Information Release, Internet Club, Multi-function Hall and supplementary facilities such as Business Centre, Fast Food Hall, Coffee House.

The main purpose and functions are as follows:

• Showing domestic and foreign new technologies and new products.

• Releasing information of national and international new technologies and new products

• Information and technology exchange and transaction.

• Providing international standard supplementary service for the above mentioned items.

At present, there are 26 domestic and foreign companies in CIM.

• An adjustment of focal point of strategy for ISTIC, i.e., development and exploitation of information services. ISTIC is going to take 5 & 8 years to set up a network resource service system, known as China Info, like America Online, CompuServe. There are 10 columns in China Info, including Info-navigation, S&T Window, Supply and Demand Information, living guidebook, virtual library and so on. China Info will be put into operation next January by raising 2 million US $ to set up the system.

Introduction by Information System for Decision Making
Ms. Li Siyi, Professor and Senior Research Fellow, ISTIC

Ms. Li discussed about the Information Service System for long-term Planning (ISSATP), Environmental and Development Information System (EDIS), and one computer simulation model - Threshold 21 China (the National Sustainable Development Simulation Model in Chinese Version). All these were developed by ISTIC under the support of the Planning Department of the State Science and Technology Commission of China (SSTCC). The ISSATP is a key project of the Eighth Five-year Plan of the country and the EDIS is a project supported by UNESCO for development of a software package for environment and development decision-making based on data collection, processing, analysis and forecasting.

For scientific decision-making, it is necessary to get hold of comprehensive, timely and accurate information; for successful administration of plan and policy, it is necessary to base it on information control and feedback. Long-term Planning is the major component of the macro-strategical decision-making of the country, and its complexity and comprehensiveness and selective strategic information on S&T development as well as on social and economic background.

The EDIS is a computerised simulation to get 600 equations from 800+ variables for the period 2000-2045. The economy system is divided into 4 parts, i.e., Agriculture, Manufacturing, Social Service and Energy. They have collected the data over a period of 10 years (1985-1994). The software used is from Ventenna Software Development Corporation, USA. She informed that it is very difficult to get the data from government / institutions, even for giving it to UNESCO.

She also narrated the difference between the ISSATP and the EDIS. The ISSATP is a textual technical digital database used for statistics, forecasting and comparison while EDI is a software package for environment and development decision-making. The EDIS components are Demography, Resources, Economy, Environment, and Standards (for comparison). The Chinese data collected fits best / closer to polynomial curve with r2=0.9817.

Searching Internet Information Resources : Method and Strategy
Mr. Wu Hexin, ISTIC

Mr. Hexin started the presentation with a brief history of Internet, NII and GII and informed that China has begun to build National plan for NII in 1994. He also talked about the new mandate of General Information Program of Unesco which concentrate on Memory of the World; The Public Domain Online; Virtual Laboratories; Virtual Learning Communities; Governance in the Information Age; Training of Information Specialists and Libraries and Archives as Gateways to the Information Highways. It is essential that information institutions take advantage of information technology to pool and increase their resources and provide their users access to the information available at community, national and international level. In this context, it is necessary to explore and use the information resources on Internet, as Internet is a great information warehouse. In brief, information resources can be divided in to 14 categories as given below:

• United Nations and other International organisations

• Governments

• Research Institutions ADN "Think Tank"

• Education institutions and related organisations

• News and publications organisations

• Healthy organisations

• Environment and development

• Global economy and international marketing

• Company and market management

• Computer systems

• Culture and entertainment

• Libraries and information services institutions

• Network development and services

• Other Information resources.

He also explained the Non-structured searching method (Browsing), structured searching approach (Retrieval) and characteristics of search tools. The ideal search tool should have following characteristics:

1. Being easy to use (but include help on formulating queries).
2. Conducting the search in a speedy manner.
3. Supporting basic searches in addition to more complexes Boolean searches.
4. Performing partial word searches and allows truncation with the use of wildcards.
5. Allowing phrase searches and proximity searches.
6. Allowing the user to apply weighting to various search terms.
7. Allowing users control over case-sensitive searching.
8. Having a built-in thesaurus for determining the best searching terms.
9. Displaying an easily interpreted result set with relevance scores or ranking system of hits.
10. Updating the database regularly to remove outdated null links.

The Patent Information Service of China
Mr. Ma Lianyuan, Deputy Commissioner, Chinese Patent Office

Mr. Lianyuan gave an introduction, types and contents of the Chinese Patent Document (CPD) and informed that the first issue of the Chinese Patent Gazette was published and distributed on September 10, 1985 as the Chinese Patent Law entered into force on April 1, 1985. The "Index according to International Patent Classification" and "Index according to Applicants and Patentees" are the two main searching tools of the CPD. He also talked about the numbering system of CPD. The numbering system of the CPD used by Chinese Patent Office (CPO) since January 1, 1993 is as follows:

• The application number -- an eight digit number with the first two digits representing the year, the third digit representing the type of patent and the last five digits showing the serial number.

• The publishing number of the patent application for invention -- a seven digit number with the first digit (which is 1) representing the type of the patent and the other the serial number. This seven-digit number is headed by the country code CN representing China and followed by the alphabet A representing publishing.

• The announcing number of the patent application for invention -- a same seven digit number, also headed by CN but followed by the alphabet C, representing announcing.

• The announcing number of the patent application for utility model -- a seven digit number with the first digit (which is 2) representing the utility model. It is headed by CN but followed by the alphabet Y.

• The announcing number of the patent application for industrial design -- the same as the announcing number of the patent application for utility model, but the first digit is 3 and followed by the alphabet D.

• The patent number -- the same as the application number, but headed by the alphabets ZL.

Besides in paper form, the CPO publishes the specifications to applications for inventions and the specifications of utility models on 16 mm microfilms and 105x148 mm microfiches. CPO also publishes the three Patent Gazettes on 105x148 mm microfiches. Moreover, CPO produces magnetic tapes of the English abstracts of the Chinese Patents, which is distributed to various countries in the world. CPO now also produced its CDROM documents. There are 4 kinds of them: CNPAT/ABSDAT (in Chinese), CNPA/ACCESS (in English), Chinese Patent Database and CPS (full text specifications.

The total number of patent application filed with CPO by the end of 1996 were 6,25,309 (1,68,774 invention; 3,66,301 utility model; and 90,264 designs). CPO has built up a nation-wide-patent documentation service network with the Documentation Department of the CPO as its centre. It has altogether 64 service centres located in various districts throughout out the country. Every centre has a complete collection of the CPDs.

CPO Patent library has document storage totalling more than 20 million patent specifications published both at home and abroad. It has reading rooms of more than 2000 square meters and a capacity of more than 200 reading seats, and a store house for documents of 2000 square meters. Patent Documents on various forms (paper, CDROM, microfilm and microfiche) from more than 20 countries and organisations are stored in the Patent Library. It receives about 60,000 readers every year, and provides various services such as copy printing, entrusted copy printing, search, advising, translation and training, in addition to the facilities for reading.

In response to the participants query, he informed that the Patent Application fees for Invention, Utility Model and Industrial Design is 200, 50 and 30 US $ respectively and the term of patent is 20 years for patent and 10 years for utility models and industrial design.

The lecture was ended with a Visit to the China Patent Office.

The Technical Information Promotion System (TIPS) and its Services in China
Mr. Wang Lianhai, Director, TIPS National Bureau in China

Mr. Lianhai introduces the necessity of establishing an information network among developing countries, TIPS - a bridge across developing countries, TIPS National Bureau in China and effectiveness of TIPS services. He informed that developing countries like India, China has developed many new technologies but other countries do not know it and the key reason is lack of information. In 1960s, developing countries asked United Nations (UN) to create International Information Network. UN has created five databases to provide information but the information was not very useful to developing countries because of lack of computer and communication facilities. In 1970s, all the developing countries called UN especially United National Development Program (UNDP) to create useful Information Network (not databases). Under this thinking, UN has created United Nations Fund for Science & Technology Development Fund (UNSTFD) with a HQ in Rome, Italy. This International Information Network is called TIPS, which is protected network means only developing countries can become the member. TIPS collect and disseminate practical and updated information on the latest technologies and trade opportunities available in the developing countries.

In 1977, China, Philippines, India, Pakistan in Asia, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Nigeria in Africa and Mexico, Peru, Brazil in Latin America became the members of TIPS and commenced into operation. At the first stage, the cost of operation were provided by UNDP and this stage lasts for one and half years. Then in the second stage, UN was not able to provide financial support to all TPS member countries. Therefore, each member country has to provide their own financial support and started charging small fees for their services. But funds were not enough to bear the full cost. Hence each member country's government provides the financial support. Each member country has a National Bureau. Each National Bureau has to collect the information within the country for trade, technology, financial, R & D and joint ventures offers / requests. They translate this information into English and transmit to TIPS HQ in Rome. At Rome, it is edited and if they found it useful, then transmit to all National Bureaus. In turn National Bureaus translates to their languages and pass this information to their users. TIPS provide a bridge between the information user and information source.

At present, TIPS has 40 members from developing countries including China, India, Philippines, Pakistan, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina, Costa Pica, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Panama and Uruguay. Indonesia and Thailand became TIPS members in 1996. Several other countries like Singapore, Iran, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and Angola are planning to join the network in near future. In addition to above, there are correspondents in over 70 non-TIPS member countries.

At present, TIPS covers broad technical and industrial fields such as agro-industry, light industry, energy, electronics, food processing, machinery, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, building materials, chemicals, fisheries, mining and metallurgy, packaging and textiles. In each of the above sectors, TIPS carries the 15 types of information, namely, technology requests, technology offers, trade requests, trade orders, consultancy requests, consultancy offers, joint ventures opportunities, bids, technology / trade news, technology / trade policies, technology trends, trade trends, research and development, technology / trade events and training. TIPS distribute this technical and trade information through sectoral bulletins.

He informed about the EC/BRE (Bureau of Papportment des Enterprise, a French word means Enterprise Corporation Centre) is incorporated from TIPS. At present, EC/BRE has 53 member countries. The working model of EC/BRE is almost same as TIPS. EC/BRE has HQ in Brazil and also has an office in Rome. He also informed about UNIDO/INTIB (International Technology database). UNIDO/INTIB has 48 member countries and HQ is at Vienna.

He also talked about TIPS National Bureau in China. It is located in the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (ISTIC). NB in China has established over 20 local information centres (LIC) that are located in municipal centre of the city. For example, Shong Hai has over 60,000 government enterprises and lot of institutions. Shong Hai has a Stringer (Information Collector) who visits each and every enterprise, collects information in Information Sheets, and puts them in different industrial sectors. and transmit it to TIPS NB in China. TIPS cover 14 industrial sectors. Most of these LICs are in the coastal region in the North East of China. NB in China edits the information received from LICs as per the TIPS Information Format and puts into TIPS Network. TIPS, EC/BRE, UNIDO/INTIB uses different information formats. Each LIC is connected to TIPS NB in China through Computer and Internet. TIPS NB in China has editing, processing and distribution, marketing, liaison and technology sections to carry out various activities. There are 5000 subscribers of TIPS Bulletin.

The statistics in the NB in China have shown that the feedback rate of foreign clients to the offers and requests publicised by Chinese users in the global TIPS network has reached 83.6%. On the other hand, the feedback rate of the Chinese subscribers to the offers and requests publicised by foreign users in TIPS bulletin is by and large the same. The management of TIPS NB in China has evidence of establishment of more than 10,000 contracts between suppliers and buyers of technologies and products as well as joint venture projects in China and foreign countries as a result of TIPS service in past eight years.

In at least several hundred cases, agreement for transfer of technology or purchase or sale of equipment and / or products with over 1 billion US $ have been concluded. For example, Chines Shen Yang Cable Corporation won a tender from Green Company in Pakistan for laying a line of high pressure cable between two cities in the country for 2.36 million US $. Another example, the Qionlai Recoil Tyre Factory has sold the technology for manufacturing recoil tyre to a Jerman Company in USA for 1.5 million US $.

He concluded by stating that TIPS, the bridge between Chinese users and foreign clients has brought about far reaching social and economic effectiveness. With the expansion of the global network, it will surely plan an even more important role in promoting technology transfer, business contact and economic cooperation among developing countries.

ISTIC's Databases and Services
Mr. Cao Zhouhua, ISTIC

He informed that ISTIC works as both database producer and promoter. He also informed that the database service income reached as much as 1.5 million RMB in 1996.

These databases (available on IBM CDS/ISIS and VAX TRIP) are accessed through either China PAC (Public Packet Exchange Data Network), China DDN (Digital Data Network) or special telephone lines. In addition to this, users can also access international databases. ISTIC's International online services take up 1/3 rd of that of the national total. Online service is the main stream of ISTIC's a Database product. He mentioned that users will also be able to retrieve ISTIC's Databases on Internet by the second half of 1997.

Some of the ISTIC's databases are also available on CDROMs, FDs. Network version of ISTIC's databases are also produced to meet the needs of network development. The other services are Data on classified fields, Hotline service, Databases services by letter & Fax, One site information services, User Training.

ISTIC signed an agreement with Nova Science Publisher Inc, USA to publish and distribute "Chinese Science & Engineering Abstracts" from the data of Chinese Scientific & Technical Periodicals Database (English Version)". ISTIC's database products have been filed in Dialog and sold to over 20 countries and regions. ISTIC also sets up three overseas branches in US, Japan and Hong Kong.

He also mentioned about the overlapped work done by ISTIC and other Information entities. For instance the ISTIC and The Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of Shanghai are duplicating the construction of "Chinese Academic Proceedings Database". The overlapped work results in great waste in terms of manpower and finance.

He talked about the "Chines Scientific & Technical Information Network" (China Info Project available at http://www.chinainfo.go.cn). The aim of the project is to link all established Chinese Scientific and Technical Sub-networks together nation-wide. Users will be able to access "China Info" on Internet and search information.

He further mentioned that ISTIC's databases is rather small in size as compared to international databases in the world due to later start than the developed country and budget shortage.

Visit to the National Library

We have visited the National Library of China on May 14, 1997 afternoon. The library was established in 1909. After the 1911 revolution, the library was taken over by the Ministry of Education of the Northern Government and formally opened to the public on August 27, 1912, which was set as a memorial day for the National Library of Beijing. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in October 1949, the National Library of Beijing was renamed as Beijing Library. Premier Zhou Enlai, the first Premier after the founding of the People's Republic of China, proposed and approved the construction of the new building for the library, while the library located in Wenjin Street became a Branch Library. The new library building located in the western suburb was completed in July 1987 and formally opened to the public on October 6, 1987.

The National Library of China covers an area of 7.42 hectares with a floor space of 140,000 square meters, including the Branch Library. The library has a total floor space of 170,000 square meters, 6,000-7,000 readers visits are made to the library's 30 odd reading rooms daily. The total collection (ancient books and foreign publications) of the library amounted to nearly 20 million (Monographs 8.0 M, Serials 9.4 M, Non-book material 1.5 M, Newspaper 0.1 M, Other material 0.5 M). The history of library's collection can be traced back to 700 years ago.

As a national library, the National Library of China accepts home publications under the legal deposit mechanism (Depository Act, 1952), to collect on comprehensive basis home publications related to the study of china, to collect foreign valuable multidisciplinary publications in a selected way. It also perform functions as the National Bibliographic Centre by editing and publishing national bibliographies, union catalogues and library catalogues, undertaking the assignment of ISSN by the China Centre.

The National Library of China contains a complete set of modernised service system including micro-copying, xeoduplicating, 25+ K audio visual service, 70+ K CDROMs (Chinese and Foreign) retrieval, internet access, academic exhibitions, The National Library of China charges 40-50 Yuan/Hr for access to CDROMs / Internet and 0.5 Yuan / page for printing.

Science & Technology Information Network of China
Mr. Xiaodong Qiao, Director, Computer Division, ISTIC

Mr. Qiao is a project coordinator of S & T Information Network in China. He talked about the Internet development and various S & T Networks in China. He informed that China has only email exchange in 1980s and TCP/IP connectivity started in 1990s through various ISPs in China. The various S & T networks in China are:

The last four are the official international connection for Internet in China and uses services from SPRINT. The internet users are over 300,000 in two years [CERNet - 50,000. CASNet - 15,000, GBNet - 1,600 and ChinaNet - 64,000]. The features of these networks are as follows: