The seventh national conference of the four-million-member China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) opened in Beijing on Tuesday with the presence of the country's top leaders including Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao and Zeng Qinghong.

Over 1,200 delegates attended the opening ceremony held in the Great Hall of the People Tuesday morning.

They are expected to review the work report submitted by the sixth national committee of the association and the draft revision of the CAST constitution, and discuss advice on building an innovation-intensive economy in China.

Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong spoke highly of the CAST and the country's scientific and technological workers for their contributions in China's reform and development when addressing the ceremony.

"You have been playing an important role in combining science and technology with the country's economic development and promoting sci-tech knowledge in the nation," he said.

He urged scientists and technologists to make more innovations.

The 1,200 delegates are from research labs, national defense institutes, enterprises, remote observatories and the agriculture industry, as well as popular scientists who are devoted to improving scientific awareness among the Chinese.

Established in 1958, the CAST has a total of 164 nationwide societies with more than 3.89 million members.

Editor: Yan