BEIJING - Scientists working on new technologies and techniques for disaster prevention are to receive a boost in funding.

In its blueprint for the next five years, the Ministry of Science and Technology has pledged to increase spending on scientific research to 2.2 percent of GDP by 2015. The figure was 1.74 percent last year.

Latest research by the State Council's Development Research Center predicts China's GDP will reach between $7.46 million and $7.63 million by 2015.