The rapid development of new industries is increasing Dalian's demand for overseas professionals, according to a local senior official.

And the central government's strategy of revitalizing the old industrial base in the nation's northeast is providing them with plentiful opportunities.

Overseas scholars and their enterprises have promoted technological and industrial developments in this coastal city in Liaoning Province, in the northeast.

In last few years, more than 240 enterprises have been set up by overseas scholars, mostly in the fields of software development, information services and bio-medicine, Vice-Mayor Dai Yulin said Thursday at a press conference.

The conference was held to discuss the preparatory work being undertaken for next month's week-long event to lure overseas scholars and projects, an event which is jointly sponsored by the ministries of science and technology, education and personnel, and the Liaoning provincial government.

The gathering is expected to attract more than 500 overseas professionals and their pioneering projects, Dai said.

In a bid to help the overseas scholars find business partners, their planned projects have been made public on websites such as www.chinaocs.com.

Mayors from the major cities in the region, including Shenyang in Liaoning Province, Harbin in Heilongjiang Province and Jilin in Jilin Province, have been invited to attend so they can introduce their preferential policies for business run by overseas scholars.

(People's Daily  May 29, 2004)