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

The government will "exert 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, including high-strength light alloys, advanced iron and steel, carbon fiber composites, new power battery materials, functional membranous materials, and rare earth functional materials, the China Securities Journal cited an insider as saying last month.

According to the report, the government is aiming for breakthroughs in a series of key generic technologies that are urgently needed, will lead future growth by 2015, and can increase the self-sufficiency rate 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.

The integrated development of advanced materials for both civil and military uses will be pursued, he noted.

The advanced materials industry is one of the seven strategic emerging industries China aims to boost over the next five years in its bid to transform the country's economic growth model.

The other strategic industries include alternative energy, bio-technology, new-generation information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, alternative-fuel cars, and energy-saving and environmental protection.

The government set a target of making the combined value-added output of the seven industries account for 8 percent of the country's gross domestic output (GDP) by 2015.

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

China's advanced materials industry has expanded at an average annual rate of 22.5 percent and is expected to grow more than 20 percent annually in the coming years, according to a report released by Guangzhou-based GF Securities in July.

Calculations covering nanomaterials, rare earth materials, advanced batteries and photoelectronic materials show the total value of China's advanced materials sector exceeded 130 billion yuan (about 20.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2010, the report said.

The 1st China International Advanced Material Industry Exposition is scheduled to run from Tuesday to Thursday in Harbin. More than 800 domestic and foreign enterprises, including those from the United States, Germany and Russia, will participate in the exposition.

A total of 152 types of advanced materials under six categories will be put on exhibition at the event.