The fifth Convention of Overseas Chinese Scholars in Science and Technology will be held in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province from December 28 to 30, according to the municipal government.
Deputy Mayor Lin Yuanhe said the convention had become a major channel for exchange and cooperation between overseas Chinese intellectuals and domestic universities, research institutions and enterprises since it was first launched in 1998.
Over 2,000 overseas Chinese scholars have registered for this year's event, 85 percent of whom hold post-graduate degrees, while 30 percent were looking for cooperation partners and another 30 percent for academic exchanges or projects for cooperation, Lin said.
They offered more than 1,300 programs, in such fields as information technology, biotechnology, new materials, new energy and environmental protection, for cooperation, said Lin.
Large governmental delegations would attend the convention, including those from Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Suzhou, along with 53 university delegations, the deputy major said.
An exhibition by successful returned scholars in doing business in China would be staged for the first time, and a forum on "Starting a business in China" would invite them to give lectures on their business experiences.
Since 1998, the annual convention has attracted around 3,800 overseas Chinese scholars and seen 4,000 new and high-technology programs offered for trade.
(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2002)
