CHINA will soon unveil the 12th Five-Year Plan for the development of the country's advanced materials industry, according to Minister of Industry and Information Technology Miao Wei.

The text of the plan, which covers the 2011-2015 period, has been completed, Miao said in a speech at the opening of an advanced materials exposition in the northeastern city of Harbin.

The government will "make efforts to push forward indigenous innovations and industrial upgrades, and promote the sustainable and rapid development of the advanced materials sector," he said.

The plan will prioritize the development of six types of advanced materials - high-strength light alloys, advanced iron and steel, carbon fiber composites, new power battery materials, membranous materials, and rare-earth materials, according to China Securities Journal, citing an insider.

According to the Journal, the government is aiming for breakthroughs in a series of key technologies that will lead growth by 2015 and increase the self-sufficiency level of key advanced materials to 70 percent.

Miao said the government will follow market demand, spur innovation and pay attention to environmental protection and energy saving in its efforts to encourage the growth of the advanced materials industry to supply both the civil and military sectors.

The advanced materials industry is one of a number of strategic emerging industries China aims to boost over the next five years. The others are alternative energy, biotechnology, new-generation information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, alternative-fuel cars, energy-saving and environmental protection.

The government set a target of making the combined value-added output of these industries account for 8 percent of gross domestic product by 2015.

Miao said: "Advanced materials play a significant role in supporting the development of other strategic emerging industries, the upgrade of traditional industries and the construction of major projects."

The 1st China International Advanced Material Industry Exposition was running in Harbin from yesterday until tomorrow.