The 2008 Forum on the Rise of Middle China was held from December 10 to 11 in Hefei, capital of Anhui province. About 200 experts from some national academic societies and the six provinces in middle China participated in the Forum.

In the preface of the proceedings of the Forum, Mme Deng Nan, executive vice president and chief executive secretary of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), points out that promoting the rise of middle China is of great significance in that it is an important component of China’s overall strategy of regional development, which is in conformity with scientific outlook on development and truly reflects the strong inspirations of the people in the region.

Mme Deng stresses that the rise of the middle China must rely on the development of science and technology and firmly keep to the path of innovation that is suited to the basic conditions of China. As an important force to push for the devlopment of science and technology, the various organizations of CAST at all levels can play a unique role in promoting the rise of middle China.

The leading persons of CAST, the Chines Ascademy of Engineering (CAE) and Anhui provincial authorities attended the opening ceremony of the Forum.

Jointly sponsored by CAST, CAE and the Anhui provincial government, the Forum is organized by the Anhui Association for Science and Technology with the help of some national academic societies and local branches of CAST. .