have exceptionally resolved to increase the research development expenses to 17 trillion yen for a period of 10 years. I expect that this is still being undertaken this year. I suppose that there is no other way for Japan but to try aiming to be a technology oriented nation with is new technology in the future, if such new industry is produced. As a result, we will be able to make a contribution to the continuous development of not only Asia, but to the whole mankind.
Now, I would like to finish my speech by introducing some concrete examples. Please kindly prepare the overhead projector. This is a large-size accelerator called the Spring Eight which maybe some of you have already seen. It is a device which produces an incredibly powerful X-ray which is known as synchrotron orbital radiation. This building actually looks somewhat like a UFO. It is a very large building which circumference is 1.4 kilometers. A lot of experimental equipment is installed inside and we are proud to say that it is one of the world's largest. It has been operating since last October. In the course of its operation, various new research and development issues are expected to be carried out. I would like to roughly explain the contents.
This new research equipment can be used for general purposes which not only produces new substances, new semiconductors and new material, but it contributes in solving the phenomena of the new field of biotechnology. It can analyze the structure of genes, protein or any of the kind on the spot. In addition to this, it has been proved that it can effectively be used in new medical fields. There is already a device which can diagnose any part of the human body by using the CT X-ray. But our device can produce an image based on the X-ray tansmissivity, in other words, it judges how much the X-ray wa able to pass through and how much it was reduced. By using is strength and phase, deflection imaging has become possible. As a result, it can discover malignant tumor of the lung and internal organs at a very early stage, which were previously most difficult to find in the human body. This amazing device actually enables early discovery of the so-called cancer. It is also being proved that by using the particle accelerator device, we can effectively destroy the focus alone. I am sure that the development of such equipment will lead us to new fields.
Another important feature of this device is that it is open to the world. Many people can freely make use of it. People from not only Asia, but throughout the world are visiting us to start concrete research. The other field that I am considering is that of the global environment.
Because I do not have enough time left I will not refer to the global environment issue that much, but as you know, the COP3 was held in Kyoto last year. However, this COP3 has left various problems behind. That is, if the developing countries of Asia do not make certain commitments. America will not ratify. This is the so-called North-South problem.
The problem is how to emphasize continuous development.
As one of the advanced countries, Japan has made many attempts for this issue. We can see a positive response by knowing the fact that expense for the technology transfer of the global environment problem has been included in the ODA budget. Needless to say we must be patient for a long period in order to find a final solution to this global environment problem. But, we will not be able to gain a consensus by coping with nuclear energy or fossil fuel like we previously did. We must especially develop a new kind of energy,
Recently, various movements can be seen in order to create clean energy. I would like to end my speech by introducing one of them. As you can see here, there is a movement to construct a large-size solar power generator in the desert near the Silk Road which leads to China. The concept is to start by greening the area, and sending out the extra electric power to the cities. Many small-size solar power generators have already been developed and now it seems to be the time to shift to a larger one. In April 1997, when I accompanied a business executive visit to China, I explained this plan to the Prime Minister in person. He showed great interest in it, and the plan has become a big project for China and Japan.
We are now in the FS stage. This is one of the plans. Each circle is 1 kilometer, the diameter of the power station is 2 kilometers. We intend to continuously construct such power stations until the year 2030. Solar batteries are very convenient as they will immediately start to operate by connecting them the moment they are completed. As it is unlikely that they will operate unless all of them are ready, we can draw groundwater from around and make the green belt. However, as an enormous amount of energy is radiated, if it is transmitted to a long distance by norma1 power lines, there will be a loss in electric power. There is already a plan to use a superconductivity for long-distance electric transmission, in other words, energy transmission. It has already been proved that by using this superconductivity transmission, there is an advantage that there is almost no loss in electric power even though it is transferred a long distance. This kind of power plant with a diameter of 2
