BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has published a document to standardize the data of research and experimental development (R&D) spending.

The new standard is expected to increase the quality of R&D statistics, and make the data comparable internationally, the NBS said in an online statement.

Relevant departments and local officials should strictly adhere to the standard and conduct surveys and data evaluations under unified rules, the statement said.

The document came as China is seeing an increasing number of R&D activities amid the country's shift toward an innovation-driven economy.

China's R&D spending increased to 2.18 percent of its GDP last year, up by 0.06 percentage points, previous NBS data showed.

The new standard is based on China's realities, meets the country's developmental needs, and accords with international standard to enhance international comparison, the NBS said.

R&D-related indexes indicate the technological capability, especially the self-innovation capability, of a country or a region.

China published the first document on R&D standard in 2000, which significantly contributed to assessing the country's technological progress.