China will further expand its technological co-operation and exchanges with foreign partners to speed up the modernization of industry.

State Councilor Chen Zhili made this comment at the opening ceremony of the Sixth China Beijing International High-Tech Expo on Friday.

Vice-Premier Huang Ju also met with some overseas participants in the expo on Friday.

Ekkehard D. Schulz, chairman of the executive board of Germany-based ThyssenKrupp Company, said that the fast-growing Chinese market offered great opportunities for entrepreneurs.

The exhibition, covering around 60,000 square meters, has attracted over 2,000 enterprises and institutes from home and abroad.

Also in the capital, the 2003 Beijing Science & Technology Week will start on September 23.

People who are interested in space will soon be able to experience the excitement of seeing a rocket launched in a simulated environment.

The 50-minute simulated programme will be open to the public in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution as a highlight in an exhibition showing the latest in scientific achievements.

There will be dozens of other programmes introduced from the United States and Canada that let people get involved and have fun while learning scientific knowledge.

(China Daily September 13, 2003)