An international conference on Asian studies opened Saturday in Shanghai, China's economic hub, attracting more than 1,400 home and overseas scholars.

The participants, coming from more than 80 countries and regions and 600 academic institutions, will focus on the theme of "Asia's future" during the four-day meeting.

They will carry out discussions on 250 topics and hold 30 thematic lectures, concerning 16 fields such as politics, economy, culture, sociology, history, anthropology, religion, urbanization, globalization, etc.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the conference, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said Asia has become one of the most vigorous regions for development in the world. Shanghai, China's biggest economic center, has made rapid progress in economy and social development since China adopted the reform and opening-up policy.

He said people of Shanghai are exerting efforts to make the city an international metropolis and an economic, financial and shipping center.

Some Chinese and foreign researchers made key-note speeches at the opening ceremony.

The conference, the fourth of its kind, was initiated in 1999 by the International Institute for Asian Studies of Leiden, an institute of the Netherlands. The previous three sessions were held in the Netherlands, Germany and Singapore.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2005)