China at Forefront of World's High-Technologies

In the past five days, Chinese visitors were deeply impressed by the just-concluded China ( Beijing) International High-Tech Industries Week 2000.

From May 8-12, Beijing National Agricultural Exhibition Hall, the main venue for the high-tech industries week was packed with visitors.

Some 450 multinationals, high-tech businesses, and scientific research institutions crowded the exhibition Hall. There were over 900 booths showcasing the world's latest scientific and technological achievements to some 200,000 Chinese audience.

Products on display included GPS (satellite global positioning system), bio-medicine, Internet refrigerators, intelligent robots, electronic wallets, future-concept mobile phones, high-energy ultrasonic tumor therapeutic apparatus, computerized building and computerized technology.

The high-tech week also saw the signing of contracts, agreements and letters of intent worth over six billion US dollars, which demonstrated the huge market potential in the world's most populous nation.

"The latest high-tech information I got at the Beijing High- Tech Industries Week was surprisingly more than the high-tech information I picked up in Japan in one year," said Ms. Han Xiaoping, who has been studying in Japan. "China is more and more closely linked up with the latest high-tech industries around the world."

Knowledge-based high-tech industries depend on innovations. In the past several days, more than 190 specialists, world famous scientists, educators, presidents of famous universities, successful businessmen and financiers gave speeches at 55 forums or workshops.

Topics discussed included high technology and fund-raising, cyber economy, high technology and insurance, geospace information technology, high-tech industrial incubators, developing countries the World Trade Organization (WTO), bio-medicine, and intellectual rights.

Audience were greatly impressed by speakers at the forums. Many people flew in from outside Beijing to listen to the speeches. All tickets were all sold out with the highest tickets priced at 2,000 yuan.

Talent, like new technologies, new products and new ideas, was also popular at the high-tech week. A range of activities for exchange of talent and scientific and technological achievements by Chinese students studying abroad were also organized. More than 40 Chinese students with doctorate or post-doctorate degrees obtained in the US, Canada, France and Britain held negotiations with representatives from 50 domestic high-tech industrial businesses. Some struck deals.

A talent invitation conference of China high-tech industries, and online talent invitation negotiations that will be open all the year round show China's great attention to talent in the new era.

While meeting with more than 60 overseas guests, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji announced that China has decided to turn the high-tech industries week into an annual event every May in the future.

This decision demonstrates that China (Beijing) International High-Tech Industries Week has not only expanded bilateral cooperation between China and the rest of the world, but also been successful in promoting high-tech industries globally.



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