The four million-member China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) is due to hold its seventh national conference from May 23 to 26 in Beijing.

Song Nanping, member of the CAST secretariat, said that since June 2001, when the CAST organized its last national conference, Chinese central authorities have launched new strategies on the scientific growth of the economy, the development of harmonious socialist society, the construction of China's modern countryside and the development of an innovative country.

Nationwide workers related to science and technology are faced with new opportunities to contribute more to the overall social and economic development, Song said.

Chinese scientists and technologists are inspired to focus on innovative research and development, help improve the overall scientific literacy among the people, and make new contributions to building an innovation-intensive economy in China.

The 1,200 delegates to the national conference are expected to review and discuss the work report to the seventh CAST national conference, the draft revision of the CAST constitution, and some advices on building an innovation-intensive economy in China.

The 1,200 delegates are from research labs, national defense institutes, enterprises, remote observatories and the agriculture industry, as well as popular scientists who are devoted to improving scientific awareness among the Chinese.

Established in 1958, the CAST has a total of 164 nationwide societies with more than 3.89 million members.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2006)