A bilateral symposium aiming at promoting China-Britain science and technology cooperation in rural areas opened on Tuesday in Yangling, an agricultural hi-tech zone of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

During the two-day symposium, more than 110 representatives from the two countries' government departments, colleges, research institutes and enterprises will exchange views on practical science and technology for rural sustainable development.

The symposium, one of the major events in the 2005 UK-China Partners in Science program sponsored by Britain, is expected to step up bilateral science and technology cooperation so as to push forward rural development in a healthy, fast and sustainable manner.

Experts from the two countries made speeches during Tuesday's session, focusing on sustainable rural development strategies, environmental protection and better utilization of resources and energy.

The symposium is co-hosted by the Department for International Development of Britain, China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shaanxi provincial government.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2005)