About 500 scientists, academics and entrepreneurs from Beijing and Taiwan are attending the three-day meeting.

The meeting is another major gathering between technological communities from both sides since the 2000 Beijing-Taiwan Technological Cooperation and Research Convention last year,sources said.

Beijing vice mayor Meng Xuenong welcomed experts from Taiwan and other regions in his speech at the opening ceremony. He said technological cooperation between the two sides will benefit both sides economically and will push mutual relations across the Taiwan Straits.

There are currently some 1,700 Taiwanese-funded enterprises in Beijing, involving a total direct investment of US$1.32 billion, and 372 programs are in sectors like computers and electronic telecommunications equipment, according to Zhang Mao,the city's vice mayor.

Statistics show new and hi-tech industries in Beijing realized an added value of 21.35 billion yuan (US$2.6 billion) last year, accounting for 29 percent of the city's total industrial added value. New and hi-tech industries have become the major force pushing the Beijing economy and helping economic structure readjustment, Zhang said.

During the meeting, experts from Beijing and Taiwan will hold various discussions on new and hi-tech industries, especially on telecommunications, computers and software, and risk investment.

(xinhua 05/09/2001 )