Ministers of science and technology from different countries attending the CHTF signed the Shenzhen Declaration Sunday (October 12th) at the Ministerial Forum of Science and Technology held at the Wuzhou Guesthouse.

In the declaration, they committed to promote "mutually beneficial international exchange and cooperation in science and technology on a more extensive basis" and make the forum a regular part of the fair.

The signing ministers were Ma Songde of China, Dr. Mofid Shehab of Egypt, Lord Sainsbury of Britain and Andrey Koulagin of Russia.

Dr. John Gibbons, former assistant to the U.S. president on science and technology, and Prof. Samuel C.C. Ting, Nobel Prize laureate in physics also addressed the forum, which focused on the government's role in the development of science and technology.

Other topics such as international cooperation, commercialization and challenges in the development of science and technology were also addressed.

Chinese minister Ma spoke about the government's efforts in improving research and development, infrastructure, industrial zones for high-tech projects, intermediate services, intellectual property protection and international collaboration.

Lord Sainsbury said cooperation with international scientists and enterprises was vital to Britain if it was to keep its leading edge in science and technology.

"We believe that there are many fields in which we can cooperate with China," said Sainsbury.

Dr. Gibbons stressed the importance of cooperation in the perspective of worldwide sustainable economic growth. The aging problem, the efficiency of energy consumption, and rational planning of resources are challenges in the development of science and technology requiring extensive worldwide cooperation, he said.

Dr. Fawzy El-Refai, a deputy minister from Egypt, said his country was now promoting high technology in communications and electronics, bio-engineering and new materials. "We warmly welcome cooperation in these fields," said El-Refai.

Prof. Ding raised the question of the importance of fundamental scientific research. "The early achievements in science and technology are out of intellectual curiosity, not economic concerns," said Ding.

The achievements, however, would eventually benefit society, Ding said.

Editor: Catherine