More than 280 scientists from Taiwan will attend a scientific conference on the Chinese mainland, Feng Changgen, a member of the secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), said at a press conference Monday.

Scientists from Taiwan will join more than 2,000 scientists and researchers on the mainland for academic exchange in satellite symposiums at the CAST's 12th annual conference, which will be held in east China's Fujian Province from Nov. 1 to 3, Feng said.

Moreover, about 100 foreign experts will also attend the annual conference.

The CAST started to hold its annual conference in 1999. The conference boasts high-level academic exchange to promote the integration of different academic disciplines, said Zhang Qin, another member of the CAST secretariat.

This year's conference has 31 satellite symposiums, including five international symposiums with foreign scientists.

Issues to be discussed at the symposiums include: low-carbon economy and environmental protection; engineering technology and industrial development; health and food safety; regional economy and urban-rural development; and information technology and the communication of technology.

Renowned Chinese scientists, researchers and officials, including Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang and Fujian governor Huang Xiaojing, will give special reports at the conference, Feng said.

Feng said there will also be over 200 science popularization activities and 12 special research projects launched as part of the annual conference.

Founded in 1958, the CAST is a national non-governmental organization of scientific, technological and engineering workers. It has member societies and local branches all over the country.