Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said his city should develop five key aspects to turn it into an international metropolis and an economic, banking and shipping hubby 2020.

He made the remarks Sunday at a welcoming cocktail party for the 2005 Shanghai Forum, which is scheduled to be held Monday in Shanghai. The forum is sponsored by the prestigious Fudan University and will focus on the theme "economic globalization and Asian's choice" this year.

The Shanghai municipal government will put technological innovation capacity at the top of the agenda and will work to cultivate and allure more elite talent to promote technological progress, he said.

The city should also optimize industrial structure and sharpen the industrial competitive edges, he said. Under the strategy, Shanghai will give preference to the manufacturing and service industries,

As host of the 2010 World Expo, Shanghai will make full use of the opportunity to upgrade its infrastructure construction, Han said..

The city will turn to a recyclable economy in the future and gradually eliminate enterprises consuming too much energy and causing too much pollution. Shanghai, home to about 20 million people, is bracing for an expected 400,000 to 500,000 new citizens every year, he said.

The city will continue to deepen reform and opening-up, and work to balance the relationship between the government, enterprises, market and society, the mayor said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2005)