The fourth forum on information industry development in Asia-Pacific cities opened in Shanghai Thursday, with the attendance of over 700 delegates from 31 international organizations, 40 countries, 77 cities and hundreds of enterprises.

Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju said in a congratulatory letter to the meeting that China, as a developing country, is now devoted to promoting an overall, coordinated and sustainable socio-economic development.

The application of information technology is conducive to improving the quality and efficiency of economic development, Huang said, adding that China will continue to speed up the growth of information industry, with a purpose to expand the application of information technology.

Marjatta Rasi, president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, said at the opening ceremony that the forum provides a crucial platform for the Asia-Pacific countries to share their experience on development and application of the information and communication technology.

The information and communication technology had become an efficient tool for achieving economic growth and for removing the digital divide, Marjatta Rasi said.

Jose Antonio Ocampo, United Nations under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs, said the world was now facing an inconsistency between excessive information and insufficient knowledge, and therefore all people need to recognize the importance of knowledge creation and then to learn how to utilize information.

Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said his city has always given priority to the development of information technology and gained notable achievements in information technology application.

Shanghai will continue to enhance the information level, with a focus on improving the application of information technology, Han added.

The forum, launched in 2000 at the call of Shanghai, is designed to step up growth and cooperation in information among cities in the Asia-Pacific region, and to narrow the economic gap among different cities.

(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2004)