A well-known Chinese scientist said Wednesday that Shanghai should make further efforts to play a role as a scientific research center for oceanic technology in the western Pacific region.
Wang Pinxian, academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made the statement at the ongoing 2000 Shanghai Forum of Science and Technology.
Wang, also a leading professor at Tongji University, said that many coastal cities in the world are research centers for oceanic technology. It's the best time for Shanghai to develop oceanic technology research and industry.
"Many local universities have carried out a series of oceanic technological research projects and made major developments," he said.
Experts attending the forum agreed that industrialization of oceanic technological developments is important in building the city into a research center in the field.
Statistics show that China reported a total output volume of 326.9 billion yuan last year in oceanic industry, accounting for 2 percent of the country's total gross domestic product, 1 percent more than the figure 10 years ago.
(People's Daily 11/02/2000)
