The fifth Beijing international symposium on the development of the biomedicine industry will be held between May 11-14, according to the organizer, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology.

Nearly 100 authorities from about seven countries and regions, including the United States, Japan and European nations are expected to give lectures on the development of traditional Chinese medicine, natural medicine, and the functions of modern technologies in the 21st century.

Officials in charge of medicine management from organizations and institutions of the US, Japan, and the European Union will hold a round-table talk during the symposium, which is sponsored by the Beijing science and technology committee, to coordinate their respective rules and regulations on plant medicine and forecast its future development.

Special forums involving issues concerning oceanic medicines, the human genome plan and Chinese medicine are scheduled to be held during the symposium, according to the organizer.

(Xinhua 03/21/01)