About 20 percent of China's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2020 is anticipated to be comprised of knowledge-intensive services.

According to the country's five-year plan for science and technology progress by 2020, this figure reflects a 15.6 percent increase since 2015, reported the China Daily.

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On Monday, the State Council published a list of its science and technology targets covering the period 2016 - 2020, which also identified measures to be implemented by the government to achieve these targets.

In particular, total factor productivity aims to provide at least 60 percent of China's GDP growth in 2020, which is up from 55.3 percent last year, the plan said.

Based on the five-year plan, the number of patent applications in by2020 is expected to be twice that of 2015, while 60 out of every 10,000 workers will be engaged in research and development.

In line with the said plan, the priorities for the Chinese government in the next five years include directing resources to strategic areas, fostering creativity, creating a favorable policy environment and removing barriers to innovation.

Moreover, China is anticipated to spend more resources in key research areas deemed vital to its national strength and security and GDP.

These include computer chip, integrated circuit equipment, broadband mobile telecommunication, digital machinery, nuclear power, genetic modification, water pollution control, new medicines, manned space programs and lunar exploration.

The Chinese government also aims to achieve breakthroughs in other areas such as deep-sea exploration, quantum computing and brain science, as outlined by the plan.

Furthermore, agriculture, computing, green energy, biology and environmental protection will also receive more attention, as the government has also committed greater support for basic research, science labs and international research.

The government will likewise encourage joint research projects between Chinese and foreign institutes and enterprises to attract more high-level foreign experts to work in China, and consequently, expand the nation's GDP. 

Tagschina, China GDP