Zhang Yutai, vice-president of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) urged that Chinese scientists should provide advice on the development of China's western region.

He said at an annual working conference of CAST that the central government has outlined a strategy for developing the vast western regions. Scientists should provide related departments and local governments of the western region with feasible and practical suggestions in developing and promoting scientific projects there.

Developing the western region will be a major part of CAST's academic exchange activities in 2000, and an annual CAST academic conference will be held this year to promote scientific development in the region.

According to Zhang, there will be a five-year plan from this year for popularizing science in the region which aims to improve the level of scientific research and education and protect the environment.

CAST will also encourage more scientists to work in the western region by hold more academic exchange activities and training classes in the region, Zhang added.