This Day, That Year

Item from June 1, 1997, in China Daily: China Jiangnan Space Industry Co began to shift to civilian production in the late 1970s to offset declining military orders.

It has since developed more than 400 civilian products, accounting for 80 percent of the company’s output.

China has been gradually increasing the integration of military and civilian industries, which means close partnership between the two through the sharing of technologies, manufacturing processes and equipment, personnel and facilities.

The 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) listed about 40 such integration programs, and in January, the central government decided to set up a committee for civilianmilitary integration.

President Xi Jinping has underscored the importance of such integration as a national strategy.

It is aimed at bolstering private participation in military ventures so that cost efficiency can be improved.

To implement the strategy, authorities have released plans to increase private sector involvement in defense production.

Sichuan province plans to authorize more than 50 private companies to take part in military projects, and transform five military units into integrated companies this year.

The country began opening up the defense market to the private sector in 2005.

Businesses are now allowed to bid for contracts from the People’s Liberation Army after obtaining four government-issued licenses that cover confidentiality and technological requirements.