The China Industrial High-Tech Forum opened on Sunday in Beijing with speeches from Nobel prize winner Tsung-dao Lee, other experts and government officials.

The forum, sponsored by up to 16 government departments and social associations, was the biggest get-together among circles of industry and science and technology ever.

It was aimed to promote the development of China's industry and science and technology and bring forth new ideas.

As part of the get-together, another 16 sub-forums focusing on specific industries such as petroleum, aerospace, automobiles and environmental protection will be held on Monday and Tuesday.

Lee won plaudits for a speech entitled "The Challenge of Physics." More than 10,000 people listened to the speech inside the Great Hall of the People. Lee is of Chinese origin and won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1957 as a United States citizen.

Attendants came from government departments, universities and the circles of economics, business and science and technology. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji sent a congratulatory letter to the scientist.

Other speakers included Vice-Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhou Guangzhao, Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua and President of Chinese Academy of Sciences Lu Yongxiang.

Their speeches focused on the relationship between globalization and the Chinese economy and the 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05). They offered advices on the development of industry and technology in China.

(China Daily 10/08/2001)