2. Summary of significant accounting policies (Details Narrative 1) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 ZHEJIANG TIANLAN CNY	Dec. 31, 2013 ZHEJIANG TIANLAN CNY	Dec. 31, 2012 ZHEJIANG TIANLAN CNY	Dec. 31, 2014 ZHEJIANG JIAHUAN CNY	Dec. 31, 2013 ZHEJIANG JIAHUAN CNY
Research and Development Costs	$ 631us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	$ 427us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	$ 930us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	21,796	15,018	14,890	4,981	3,893
Advertising and promotional expenses	$ 44us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense	$ 12us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense	$ 21us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense	11	25	26

- Definition

The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

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