By PNA / Xinhua and U.S. News Agency / Asian

China will raise its global innovation ranking over the next five years, according to a newly issued national scientific and technological (S&T) blueprint.

The blueprint, issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday, maps out the country’s S&T development goals for the coming five years.

The blueprint’s objectives include significant growth in innovation capacity, greater international influence in the S&T sector and more breakthroughs in the research and development (R&D) of crucial technologies.

The blueprint also specifies that China’s global innovation ranking will be raised from 21st to 18th in the world, citing rankings released by the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (CASTED) in February.

The CASTED ranking surveyed the innovative capacity of 40 countries with an edge in technological research.

Other specific goals outlined in the blueprint include increasing the amount of money spent on R&D, boosting patent ownership, improving the added value of the nation’s high-tech industries and increasing the number of active R&D personnel.

The blueprint also places emphasis on technologies that have direct bearing on people’s livelihood, including those in the health, disaster reduction and sustainable development sectors.

In the health sector, greater efforts will be made in the study of chronic diseases, communicable diseases and mental diseases to make breakthrough in the diagnosis and treatment.

In disaster reduction sector, focus will be given to the development of early warning technologies against earthquakes, landslides, flood, hurricane and other disasters.

China will also aim at establishing a comprehensive food safety monitoring and examination system, according to the blueprint.

On sustainable development, more efforts will be given to innovation of key technologies in building green cities and towns.

The blueprint was issued after two years of studies, opinion surveys and amendments.