These were the remarks made by Premier Zhu Rongji at the opening ceremony of the Fifth China Beijing International High-Tech Expo yesterday, which ends on Tuesday in Beijing.

Zhu said the comprehensive high-tech exposition is an effective method for China to promote high-tech exchanges and co-operative relations with the outside world.

Meanwhile, mutual or bilateral technology exchange and co-operation via various government departments or civil organizations should also be encouraged.

"We will strengthen the technological exchange and co-operation with the outside world on the principles of mutual benefit, achievement sharing, protection of intellectual property rights as well as honoring international practices," said Zhu.

Liu Qi, Beijing mayor and chairman of the high-tech exposition, said: "The exposition offers a platform for China to exchange and co-operate with the rest of the world on technology, capital, talents and information."

He said the event, formerly the China Beijing High-Tech Industries Week, is to keep in line with international practices on management, operation, infrastructure and services.

According to statistics from the organizing committee, thousands of foreigners from more than 70 governmental and business delegations, and a group of world-leading enterprises from 68 nations and regions, will attend the event.

The exposition is divided into exhibitions, forums, trade talks, thematic international exchanges and online activities, and focuses on China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the 2008 Olympic Games, to be held in Beijing.

During yesterday's Fourth Session of International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Beijing - one of numerous activities at the exposition - 17 world leading entrepreneurs said they hope opportunities will come their way at the expo.

The exposition also realized the start of the World Sports Summit (WSS) yesterday, which sets out to promote world sports communication and co-operation, as well as accelerating the country's sports industry.

"WSS is very meaningful and is one link in the chain for the organization of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," Juan Antonio Samaranch, honorary chairman of the summit and former president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said in a video to celebrate the event.

A joint communique encompassing these issues was released at the WSS yesterday. Industry experts and analysts believe the 2008 Beijing Olympics will provide a golden opportunity for China's sustainable development, especially for its fledgling sports industry.

Sources said more than 120 companies are bidding for the construction projects for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, including Australian-based HOK Sport-Venus-Event, a leading sports architectural firm.

"We are finalizing our design for the bidding," said Paul Henry, senior principal of HOK.

(China Daily May 24, 2002)