Chinese entrepreneurs from around the world gathered Sunday in Hangzhou, capital of eastern Zhejiang Province to promote cooperation and the exchange of technology innovation.

Professionals from the business sector including 300 overseas Chinese from the United States, Japan, Canada, Singapore and the Philippines are scheduled to make discussions from June 2 to 4 with more than 1,200 technological experts, economists and government officials in the mainland.

The event is sponsored by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office ( OCAO) of the State Council, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and Zhejiang provincial government.

Guo Dongpo, director of the OCAO, said at Sunday's opening ceremony that China welcomes overseas Chinese to invest in modern agriculture and high-tech industries, and participate in developing China's western areas and reforming State-owned enterprises in the mainland.

He said that overseas Chinese are a valuable resource to China as they are important bridges between the country and the world.

Speeches on human resources strategy, economic globalization and China's entry to the World Trade Organization will be given and five press conferences will be held to allow overseas Chinese entrepreneurs to seek cooperation partners.

(People's Daily June 3, 2002)