Speech at the Press Conference

Honorable guests and friends from media,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good afternoon! ACHEMASIA 2004, the 6th International Exhibition-Congress on Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology was opened this morning. Since 1989, ACHEMASIA has been held in Beijing once every three years. Thanks to your cares and concerns, and many reports for each session by the media, ACHEMASIA now enjoys a high reputation in the world, as well as in China, making deep impression and strong attraction to both the exhibitors and visitors. Hence, I would like to express our heart-felt gratitude, on behalf of the German and Chinese co-organizers, to all of you.

The year 2004 is a critical point for China on fulfilling its tenth Five Year Plan, and a crucial period for implementing the strategy of comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development in economy, society, and human life. As called by the Tenth People’s Congress, China will articulate and bring to fruition the concept of scientific development, and take a realistic and pragmatic attitude to realize a sustainable, balanced and healthy development of its national economy. The Congress sets the target of growth rate this year at around 7%, taking into considerations of necessity and feasibility, because, on one hand , China is in a golden period for its economical development, which she must grasp to expedite the construction of moderately prosperous society in all aspects of life, on the other hand, China has not yet changed its economy growth model from high input, high energy consumption, and high pollution. Especially since last year, the whole economy has been running constrained by short supply of coal, electricity, oil, and transportation capacity. Therefore, a moderate growth rate will benefit the balanced economical development, and modulate a relatively high growth rate with the supply of ressources. In light of such a macroeconomic target and policy, the second industry, especially the traditional pillar industries of petroleum, petrochemical industry and chemical industry, must further restructure to upgrade technological standards and develop high value added products with more technology and less pollution. Renovation of these industries will explicitly expand the demand on related technologies and equipment, promote communication in science and technology between China and other nations, and spur international trade in related products. Held in such an auspicious circumstance, ACHEMASIA 2004 is blessed to be an important link for international communication and cooperation in science and technology, as well as a platform for both domestic and overseas enterprises to display themselves and promote their products.

My colleague, Prof. Gerhard Kreysa from DECHEMA, has briefed details on the scope, scale, and unique features of this sessions. I would like to make short complementary comments, on behalf of the Chinese partner.

First, ACHEMASIA has become an important stage for international communication and cooperation in chemical engineering and biotechnology. Friends, old and new, gather in the exhibition hall or seminar room, to share their views and visions, learn from each other and develop together. These activities not only facilitate the restructuring and upgrading of China’s traditional pillar industries such as energy, petrochemial and chemical industries, and expedite healthy and balanced growth of related industries and national economy at large, but also help strengthen international communication in science and cooperation in technological trade, and promote development of chemical technology and biotechnology in the world.

Second, ACHEMSIA has accomodated to serve the need of China’s development. As the largest one in ACHEMASIA history with more than 6000 square meters exhibition space and over 400 exhibitors, this session features a pertinence of China’s requirement for its economic reform, industry restructuring, and technological innovation in light of a balanced sustainable economical growth. For example, we have a heavy weight, both in exhibition and seminar lectures, on clean conversion of energy, green manufacturing of petrochemicals, latest technologies in bio engineering, environmental and safety technologies, as well as technologies for water recycling for industry and community use.

Third, ACHEMASIA is a grand gathering fostered not only by the co-organizers but also by the chinese community of industries and government organizations. We have been continuously supported by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the State Administration of Environmental Protection, the Chinese Association of Petroleum and Chemical Industries, the Chinese Federation of Mechanical Industry, SINOPEC Group, China National Petroleum Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Coroaration, China Haohua Chemical Industrial (Group)Corporation, the Chinese Association of Science and Technology, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Chinese Association of Chemical Anti-corrosion Protection Technology, China International Exhibition Center, and a long list of other great names. I am pleased to take this opportunity, on behalf of the co-organizers, to express our most sincere thanks to all of you.

Last but not least, we would also like to express our thanks to friends from media, for your work and reports that we have enjoyed and we will enjoy.

Thanks for your attention!