BEIJING - China's national natural science funds have exceeded 15 billion yuan ($2.37 billion) and have supported a total of 113,742 research projects in the past five years, authorities said Tuesday.

At a symposium marking the fifth anniversary of the implementation of the Regulations on the National Natural Science Funds, Chen Yiyu, head of the National Natural Science Foundation, said the funds have increased by more than 10 billion yuan in five years.

The regulations, the first of its kind in China for regulating the management of natural science research funds, took effect on April 1, 2007.

State Councilor Liu Yandong said at the symposium that the regulations have played an important role in encouraging innovations, protecting rights and supporting sci-tech researchers.

Liu added that the core task of the laws and regulations the country has made is to support high-quality scientific research and talented people, so as to improve the country's capacity for independent innovation.

Liu called for enhanced consciousness in implementing laws and regulations in the field of science and technology, an improved system for project and funds management, as well as a system for project evaluation, auditing and supervision.