Shenzhen invited five more of the country's top scientists to join the city's science and technology advisory body Tuesday.

The five scientists are experts in the fields of automobiles, energy and microelectronics. They are Chen Qingtai, deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council; Zuo Tieyong, academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Ma Zunru, former director of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs; Shi Dinghuan, consultant to the State Council and former secretary general of the Ministry of Science and Technology; and Zhang Jing'an, president of the Science and Technology Daily.

According to Li Hongzhong, the Shenzhen Party secretary, the scientists are expected to play an important role in developing Shenzhen as an innovation-oriented city. He said Shenzhen will become a city creating homegrown innovative technology, and he hoped the advisers could help Shenzhen achieve this goal.

Xu Zongheng, mayor of Shenzhen, said Shenzhen needed talented people in these fields, and encouraged the advisers to help push Shenzhen's development in science and technology.

The scientists each delivered a speech during a ceremony in Beijing Tuesday where they were presented their letters of appointment. They all mentioned their respect and admiration for Shenzhen. They said Shenzhen was at a transitional moment as far as its development strategy was concerned, and it had the foundation and conditions to achieve the goal. They also spelled out some specific suggestions at the ceremony.

(Shenzhen Daily January 13, 2006)