More than 20,000 schools are expected to get aviation and space flight gift books from the Ministry of Education, donated by China's national defence industry authorities Sunday.

The donation is aimed at sharpening science and space technology awareness among young people in China and is one of the events to mark this year's World Space Week, Monday's China Daily reported.

Though the annual space week takes place on October 4-10 around the world, China is determined this year to publicize space knowledge in a pragmatic manner, according to Zhang Weiming, vice- minister of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (COSTIND).

Students are encouraged to take part in a national writing competition on science and space knowledge after they read the books. Test papers are available in newspapers and the website www.cnsa.gov.cn.

First prize winners in the competition will be invited to Beijing during World Space Week to receive the award, and prominent astronauts will also be present during the period to give lectures, the newspaper reported.