CIRCULAR OF THE GENERAL OFFICE OF THE STATE COUNCIL FOR TRANSMITTING THE REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE STATE METEOROLOGICAL ADMINISTRATION REQUESTING INSTRUCTIONS ON STRENGTHENING THE WORK OF ARTIFICIALLY AFFECTING THE WEATHER

    As a scientific and technical means, by which man attains the goal of
increasing rain(snow), decreasing hailstorms and preventing frost injury,
etc., by using modern science and technology, artificially affecting the
weather has become an important measure for preventing and reducing natural
disasters, especially for protecting the agricultural production. Various
localities have developed the work in varying degrees, and obtained tangible
results. The main problems existing at present are: the managerial system is
not sound enough; the scientific and technological level and the overall
results of the operation demand prompt raising; the training of personnel
needs yet to be strengthened. With a view to bringing into full play the role
of the work of artificially affecting the weather, some proposals are hereby
put forward as follows:

    1. Guiding Principles and Objective

    (1) The guiding principles for the work of artificially affecting the
weather for the current period are: aiming at preventing and reducing natural
disasters, taking serving agriculture as the focal point, speeding up the
modernization of artificially affecting the weather, strengthening the talent
training and scientific research, and bringing about steady raising of the
scientific and technological level and the total results of the operation.

    (2) By the end of this century, the work of artificially affecting the
weather of this country shall preliminarily realize the standardized
management, basically establish a modern technical system and managerial
system with Chinese characteristics for artificially affecting the weather,
make the meteorological scientific and technological level and overall
results come up to the standards of middling developed countries and, in some
aspects, to the advanced international standards.

    2. Strengthening the Scientific Research

    There is much science in the work of artificially affecting the weather,
which must rely on scientific and technical advances with the strengthening
of the scientific research.

    (1) Taking vigorous action to adopt advanced technology and bringing
about steady raising of the technical level of operation. Various localities
shall rely on modern meteorological service network, make overall planning,
and progressively establish and improve the integrated technical system for
artificially affecting the weather. Attach great importance to tapping
potentialities and the transformation of the existing technical equipment,
strengthen the development, research, spread and application of new
technology.

    (2) Increasing the input to the scientific research of artificially
affecting the weather. The state-level scientific research shall lay emphasis
on major scientific and technical difficulties of generality; local
scientific research shall center on improving the operation programs and
raising the operation results. Various localities shall yearly appropriated a
certain portion from the funds for artificially affecting the weather, to
support the research of key technology.

    (3) Strengthening the technical cooperation and international exchanges.
Take vigorous action to extend domestic and international scientific and
technical exchanges, as well as mutual cooperation between civil and
military meteorological research strengths, try to establish, in the Ninth
Five-Year Plan period, one or two bases for the experiments of artificially
affecting the weather, which shall be jointly supported by central and local
governments and shall be responsible for key experiments and research, and,
in some localities with necessary conditions, other experiment and
demonstration bases may be established.

    (4) Establish a nationwide consultancy and appraisal system for science
and technology of artificially affecting the weather, develop the technical
consultancy and appraisal on the work of artificially affecting the weather
conducted by various localities, and progressively realize the
standardization of operation.

    3. Deepening the Reform and Strengthening the Management

    (1) Reforming and improving the input mechanism. Deepen the reform,
broaden the investment channel, especially the benefited units shall
progressively increase the input. The government at various levels shall,
in accordance with the needs of economic development and prevention and
reduction of natural disasters, increase necessary input; meteorological
departments shall actively develop special service and paid professional
service relating to the work of artificially affecting the weather.

    (2) Perfecting the rules and regulations and strengthening the training
of personnel. Tighten the safety control over the operation of artificially
affecting the weather, make perfect and strictly enforce the operation rules
and regulations, and establish a system under which the workers for the
operation of artificially affecting the weather must obtain certifications
before going to their posts. Pay attention to the talent training, strengthen
the technical training and the spread of new technologies, bring about steady
improvement in the overall quality of the contingent.

    (3) Developing the transregional work of artificially affecting the
weather. Take vigorous action to organize and develop the trans-county,
trans-city and trans-province(autonomous region, municipality directly under
the central government) cooperation and combination in the operation of
artificially affecting the weather, explore effective ways for realizing the
pooling of technical equipment and other resources, and seek proper
organizational forms for horizontal and vertical collaboration and
cooperation.

    4. Strengthening the Leadership and Enhancing the Coordination.

    The work of artificially affecting the weather is a complex system
engineering, which involves many disciplines, departments and lines and
requires well-conceived planning and scientific organization.

    (1) The government at various levels shall further strengthen and improve
the leadership over the work of artificially affecting the weather. The state
shall conduct coordination and organization for and give guidance to the work
of artificially affecting the weather throughout the country by adopting a
national coordination conference system; various localities shall
conscientiously implement the state’s guiding principles and policies
concerning the work of artificially affecting the weather and, in accordance
with local conditions, improve relevant organizations and system.

    (2) Various relevant departments shall strengthen the cooperation, and
progressively establish an effective cooperation system. Various localities
shall make their developing programs and plans for the work of artificially
affecting the weather, and incorporate them into the planning and annual plan
of the local national economy and social development.

    (3) Meteorological departments at various levels shall actively extend
their business scope of meteorological services, give full play to the
professional technical advantages, strengthen the modernization construction
in the work of artificially affecting the weather, and effectively accomplish
the organization, management, guidance and service in the work of artificially
affecting the weather.

    (4) Establishing a reporting system of significant matters concerning the
work of artificially affecting the weather. Various provinces(autonomous
regions, municipalities directly under the central government) and
departments shall submit timely reports to the State Meteorological
Administration and other relevant departments, on significant events, major
progress and other important matters in the work of artificially affecting
the weather, for necessary coordination and handling.