Prof. Zhou Guangzhao, honorary president of CAST and member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), met with the delegates who were participating in the 8th meeting of the Asian Science Council (SCA) in the coastal city of Qingdao.

Prof. Zhou said during the meeting that the Chinese government had drawn a National Outline for Long-term and Mid-term Scientific and Technological Development Plan, which is meant to direct the nation’s development in science and technology in the time to come. The development in science and technology will be closely related to the social and economic development of the nation, focusing on those pressing issues in the development of economy and society, such as energy, resources, environment, population and industrial adjustment, etc. China is facing similar problems with other Asian countries, and scientific cooperation among Asian science communities is of significant importace. The Marine Forum has been successfully held for 8 years, with themes on marine technological and economic development. This year’s forum combines with the 8th meeting of the SCA, and it will promote the comprehensive development of marine technology and economic development of Qingdao.

Professor Ichiro Kanazawa, president of the Science Council Japan briefed Zhou of the SCA and its major functions during the meeting.

It is reported that the 9th International Forum on Marine Science and Technology and Economic Development, jointly hosted by SCA, CAST and 10 other ministries as well as the Qingdao municipal government, had attracted over 600 participants from more than 10 countries, such as China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, etc. Among representatives were experts and officials of scientific organizations. The main purpose of the Forum is to facilitate the exchange of information and cooperation, promote mutual understanding and trust, coordinate position and action of the science community of Asian countries on issues of global importance and Asian concern, and finally advance the economic and scientific development of Asian region.