The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has invited six Nobel laureates to deliver speeches at a forum which opened in Beijing today to mark the 50th anniversary of the CAS.

The six Nobel Prize winners include three Chinese-American physicists, Chen Ning Yang, Tsung-Dao Lee, and Samuel C.C. Ting, and American biologists Harold E. Varmus and Ferid Murad, and German biologist Hartmut Michel.

Lu Yongxiang, president of the CAS, gave the first address at the forum, recalling the major scientific findings and scientific and technological revolutions of the 20th century, and summarizing the experiences and revelations gained through the development of science in the century.

The 21st century will be an age of information revolution, and also an age of the rapid development of the life sciences, new materials and advanced manufacturing technology, said Lu.

Human society will further develop and utilize new types of energy, and try to coordinate this development with environmental protection, he said.

He urged all of the world's scientists and technologists to join hands to contribute to the prosperity of all nations.

Professor Varmus gave a talk titled "Biology and Medicine in the 21st Century" at the forum today, and other Nobel laureates and several Chinese and foreign scientists will also deliver addresses during the three-day forum. (Xinhua)