The Sixth Annual China High-tech Fair (CHTF), one of the nation's leading international technology events, opened in Shenzhen on October 12.

The six-day fair is jointly hosted by 10 government departments and institutions, including the ministries of commerce, science and technology and information industry, as well as the Shenzhen municipal government.

Vice Premier Wu Yi and Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai spoke at the opening ceremony.

Wu said that China hopes enterprises and science institutes from all over the world will take an active role in investing and developing the high-tech industry in China.

She pointed out that the nation is improving intellectual property rights protection to create a sound environment for high-tech industrial development. China will expand its cooperation with countries around the world to crack down on IPR violations.

This year, the CHTF is being held in a brand-new exhibition venue. The exhibiting area of the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center is 135,500 square meters.

Daniel Hammang, a member of the US California Asian Delegation, was pleased with the new venue. "I've attended many electronic shows around the world and this one impressed me the most, given its international design and management."

Shenzhen Mayor Li Hongzhong said that the fair has grown into an important window on China's high-tech industry.

Some 21 delegations from abroad and 36 from domestic governments and institutions are participating in the fair.

Thirty-one renowned universities and 44 multinational companies, including Intel, Oracle, HP and Sanyo, are participating in the fair to showcase their communication and environmental products, biotechnologies and new materials.

Bruce Hueners, vice president of marketing at Palomar Technologies in the US, is looking for chances to tap the huge China market. He noted that the fair presents good business opportunities for companies like his while improving the nation's economy by raising the level of technology.

The World Technology & Economy Forum will be held in conjunction with the ongoing fair, with leaders in government, business and education from around the world expected to attend. Since 1999, 12 Nobel Prize laureates, 21 ministerial-level officials and nearly 100 senior corporate executives and scientists have made presentations at the annual forum.

(China Daily, China.org.cn October 13, 2004)