| South－North Water Diversion Project launched
These words by Premier Zhu Rongji marked the official start of China's biggest ever water project, the South－North Water Diversion Project. The network, backed by a total investment of 59 billion US dollars, aims to divert water from the mighty Yangtze River to the country's thirsty northern areas.
The water diversion project will consist of three south－to－north canals, each running about 1,300 kilometers across the eastern, middle and western parts of the country. Upon its completion in the middle of the century, the project will be able to deliver 44.8 billion cubic meters of water to the north each year.
The network will have four major east－west waterways: the Yangtze, Yellow, Huaihe and Haihe rivers and three north－south canals which will cover China. The network will effectively coordinate water resources within the country, which will lay a solid foundation to help realize a comprehensive well－off society.
Chinese scientists draw first detailed map of rice genome
Chinese scientists have drawn their first detailed map of the rice genome. It is the first such gene map in the world. The object of the study is long－grained non－glutinous rice, which is the male parent of the super hybrid rice first developed by Chinese scientist Yuan Longping.
The map boasts not only the distribution and position of rice genes on the chromosome, but also includes genetic markers for use in breeding rice seedlings. The map accounts for some 97 percent of the total genetic sequence. Its accuracy is 99.99 percent.
Experts say this gene map of paddy rice makes scientists' further research much easier. With this map, the quality of rice on people's dining tables can be greatly improved, they said.
The problem of producing high－yield rice is regarded as the key to solving world hunger problems.
China's space quest
 In a major step forward in the country's space program, China has rocketed dummy astronauts into orbit aboard its fourth unmanned Shenzhou spacecraft. It is the fourth successful test in three years in the country's plan to launch a manned space flight.
Conditions in the Shenzhou IV are identical to those of its predecessor, Shenzhou III, launched earlier this year. Dummy astronauts have been installed in the craft to test its life support system.
Shenzhou IV launched on Monday morning will circle around the earth for a week before its descent module lands in China's north. If all goes well, Shenzhou V could transport China's first manned space mission.
Space officials say China also plans to develop at least 30 satellites by the end of 2005 to be used for a range of services including telecommunications, navigation and weather forecasting.
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