More than 100 officials and experts from 13 members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are attending a workshop on science and technology intermediary mechanisms, which started in Beijing Monday morning.

At the 11th informal meeting of APEC leaders, held in October 2003 in Thailand, Chinese President Hu Jintao said the promotion of science and technology advancement and innovation is critically important to the realization of sustainable economic development.

In response to Hu's proposal, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, together with the Thai Ministry of Science and Technology, sponsored the workshop, focusing on governments' role in promoting intermediary organs, related policies, information sharing systems and international cooperation in the field.

In his opening remarks, Li Xueyong, vice minister of science and technology, said that under a market economy, science and technology intermediary service institutions are able to help establish close ties among different innovation entities and provide important supporting services for innovation activities.

The joint efforts of APEC members to promote the development of intermediary institutions are in line with the demands of the times and demands for the coordinated development in the region, Li said.

Statistics showed that China has more than 60,000 such intermediary organs, providing over 1.1 million jobs.

By organizing the two-day workshop within the APEC framework, China hopes to further boost domestic intermediary services for scientific and technological innovation.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2004)