Speech at the Press Conference Held in the Information Office of the State Council
On the 3rd International Week on High-tech Industries, Beijing China

Liu Qi

Chair of the Organizing Committee
Mayor of Beijing

January 10, 2000

Ladies and Gentlemen: Good afternoon.

The International Week on High-tech Industries has been held two times. Approved by China's State Council, the Week will be held in May every year in Beijing as the country's grand meeting for international exchanges and cooperation on high-tech industries. Now I would like to give a briefing on the 3rd Week.

The 3rd International Week on High-tech Industries, Beijing China Will be held on May 8-12 in Beijing. It will be a concrete action of the Chinese Government in implementing the strategies of revitalizing the country through science and education and promoting trade through science and technology and in active participation in international cooperation in high-tech industries. The central government's departments responsible for science and technology, foreign economy and trade and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality will fully cooperate with international organizations and intermediary organizations both home and abroad in order to make the Week a state-level exhibition of international exchanges and business opportunities. Compared with the previous two Weeks, this Week will give prominence to the following aspects:

  1. Higher level of internationalization.

    2. Until now, governments, enterprises and specialized organizations from more than 40 countries of North America, South America, European Union, East Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa have expressed their wish to participate in the Week. China's Hong Kong and Taiwan will also send delegations to join the Week. Some international organizations, such as UNDP (UN Development Program), UNIDO (UN Industrial Development Organization), European Union Commission, will organize 18 large-scale international conferences. State-level high-tech activities and concerned trade, investment and financing and personnel exchanges will also be organized by government departments (MOST, MOFTEC, Chinese Science and Technology Association, State Administration of Foreign Experts) and intermediary organizations.

  2. Broader scale than those of the previous Weeks.

    3. High-tech exhibitions of the Week will mainly display electronic IT, high-tech renovation of traditional industries, environmental protection, new material and energy, new medicine bio-engineering. Two specialized exhibitions will be included: Exhibition and Trade fair of World High-tech Medicine and Health Products and Exhibition of Technology and Equipment of World Global Spatial Information Industry. Due to the participation of world famous high-tech enterprises and domestic science parks and pillar high-tech companies, the scale of this week will be 50% larger than the previous one. 12 high-tech forums and 40 lectures, doubling the number of those of the previous one, have been arranged until now. These forums and lectures will give full introduction to the successful experience and trend of the development of high-tech industries and discuss the opportunities Chinese high-tech industries are facing after China's access to WTO. They will also look into the high-tech development in the 21st Century. More than 10 authoritative ministers and world famous experts in the fields of high-tech, finance and insurance will deliver their speeches.

  3. More substantial Content.

    4. Besides exhibitions, trade of technology, trade talks, forums and discussions and scientific tours, both the Advisory Board Meeting of International Entrepreneurs for the Mayor of Beijing and World Overseas Chinese Conference on Science and Technology will be convened. Cross Century S&T Renovation Personnel Exchange and Trade Fair of International S&T Periodicals and Books will also be held. All these will make the week a comprehensive stage for international exchanges by integrating technology, talents, finance and information.

  4. Pragmatic organization.
    In the week, more than 10 international and domestic trade talks will be organized. These talks will include The Talk on Financing between Foreign-funded Banks and Chinese Side for Key Projects, Talks on High-tech Venture Investment and Insurance Projects Connected with the Production and Research Organizations and Venture Investment organizations and Introduction to the Investment Plan to China by EU Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. As the venue for trade of yearly programs during the closing of the international week, "Beijing Trade Center for Technological achievements" will be formally put into use.

The Week will be an international gala of high-tech industries oriented towards the new century. In order to successfully hold the Week and to build up a best stage, the city wishes to provide all-round service for the international cooperation between brother provinces and cities all over China and world high-tech industries. The city of Beijing will put all its efforts and cooperate closely with concerned Ministries and Commissions of the central government.

So much for my briefing. Thank you.