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( 2001-05-31 07:18 ) (9 )

A company backed by China's top sci-tech Tsinghua University has at last won its bid to sell container inspection systems to the Australian Customs Service.

Tsinghua Tongfang Nuctech inked the US$3 million contract with the Australian Customs authority for its X-ray scanner, named THSCAN, on Wednesday in Beijing.

The deal, which is the product's first contract for export, signals a successful step in the Chinese Government's strategy to translate technological advantages into commercial uses.

Mr John Hawksworth, national director of the Australia Customs Service, said they had chosen Chinese products after an extensive analysis of similar products produced by manufacturers worldwide.

They believe the purchase of China's inspection system demonstrates Australia's commitment to fight smuggling, particularly narcotics.

The product will enable Australian Customs to check out more illegal imports, and increase the speed of inspections, Hawksworth said.

The Australians bought two sets of systems from the Tsinghua Tongfang Nuctech company this time. The machines will be installed at the ports of Sydney and Melbourne Customs.

According to the Nuctech company, the THSCAN system employs the world's most advanced electron linear accelerator as its radiation source.

It represents the current trend of the international radiation imaging technology, satisfying the increasing demands of various countries for safety and environmental protection.

This kind of inspection system has been used for barely a decade. It is still at an early stage before being widely applied in customs in many other countries.

Thanks to Tsinghua University's technology, China's customs have been leading the world in using the X-ray scanners to help seize smuggled goods.

Thirteen sets of the THSCAN systems have been in operation in China's major coastal cities, including Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai and Shenzhen.