A top Chinese scientist appealed yesterday to his Asian partners for further cooperation and regional exchange.

“Increasing changes brought by today’s modern science and knowledge economy have raised even more demands for international and regional exchange and cooperation in science and technology,” said Lu Yongxiang, president of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) at the fifth General Assembly of Association of Academies of Sciences in Asia (AASA).

Lu is also vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Founded five years ago in the Republic of Korea, AASA is dedicated to the development of scientific exchange and cooperation between and among all Asian countries.

More than 40 academy presidents and scientists from 19 countries and regions in Asia and Europe are attending the assembly, held yesterday through today in this coastal city in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The participants are discussing the progress achieved in biotechnology in the region.

During the conference, a symposium on utilization of renewable energy is being held.

In the past years, AASA launched fruitful regional cooperation in areas such as biotechnology, cultural heritage, water resources and utilization, food and safety, Lu said.

A regional center was also set up in Irkutsk, Russia, to facilitate the research activities of its member academies.

“We need to build up a well-defined mechanism for information exchange among AASA members and promote communications in science and technological development strategy, key scientific R&D activities, science consultation and science ethics cultivation,” Lu said.

(China Daily September 28, 2004)