A week-long forum on University development being attended by the Presidents of 143 universities from China and abroad opened in Shanghai today, July 12.

The international forum is the third of its kind to be held in China since 2000 and has attracted the heads of 14 Universities including Britain's Cambridge University, the United States' Stanford and Yale Universities and the Australian National University. All foreign University heads are delivering key-note speeches at the forum.

Yu Jiaqing, deputy secretary of the forum, said the event would focus on two topics -- innovative education for the 21st century and industrialization of research and development results.

During the forum University leaders will visit Chinese and foreign firms based in Shanghai including steel giant BaoGang, home appliance firm Haier and HP's local office to consult with company bosses on how best to nurture talent for the business world. 

They will also visit Shanghai's high-tech park to learn about Chinese Universities' experiences in high-tech research and development.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2006)