The Chinese Academy of Sciences, China's top research organization, will improve its academician system in the next 15 years, according to its medium and long-termdevelopment plan.

    Academicians in China are defined as members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). China established the CAS in 1949 and the CAE in 1994. The academicians are top honorary titles for scientists and technologyexperts who have made outstanding contributions to the nation.

    The plan said the CAS will improve its method of recommending and selecting new members and standardize the process of dealing with complaints about academics.

    Supervision over the selection of members by the academic circle and the public will be strengthened. Both the research ability and morals of the candidates will be taken into consideration to ensure that China's top scientists are selected as academicians, said the plan.

    China's existing academician system is still "very young" and improvement is needed in selection procedures, financial rewards and age limits, Shen Guofang, CAE vice president, said recently.

    The academician system has made a major contribution to the country's economic growth, scientific and technological progress as well as the development of the defense industry.

    However, there have been heated discussions lately on the efficiency of the academic system in China. The primary debates are largely focused on the selection procedures and financial rewarding for CAS and CAE academicians.