With a growth rate of 12% in 1994, China is rapidly becoming a world economic power to rival Japan and the United States. To sustain this rate of growth, China needs to invest in acquiring or developing a vast array of technologies. Advancements based on science and technology will be the main thrust of Chinese government policy over the next five years. The conference will take a comprehensive look at technology and market opportunities emerging in the Chinese chemical industry.

The Chemical Industry and Technologies-Opportunities in China is the first formal event of the recently formed China Economic and Technology Alliance (CETA). CETA is a partnership between SRI International and the People's Republic of China and is cosponsored by Exxon Corp., Akzo-Nobel, Praxair, China Technology Consultants Inc., Raychem and Ciba-Geigy. CETA has been formed to provide assistance to China and to foreign firms interested in identifying attractive investment opportunities in China, resolving issues such as intellectual property rights, matching foreign technology needs with Chinese technological capabilities, and facilitating investment negotiations. The ultimate goal is to improve China's economy through the application of technology and the development of technology-based industries.

CETA has the approval of the government of the People's Republic of China and the support of the China State Economic and Trade Commission, Academy of Sciences, Academy of Engineering and other relevant Chinese organizations. CETA's activities include an annual industry conference, development of a China technologies database and three briefings per year with top Chinese government officials on policy and economic developments.

The Chemical Industry and Technologies-Opportunities in China is cosponsored by SRI International and the People's Republic of China Ministry of Chemical Industry (MCI). It brings together key government officials, senior managers of multinational corporations and potential investors to build a sound mutual understanding of opportunities, resources, technology needs and the particular challenges of developing technology-based alliances in China. During the conference, the details of the ninth five-year plan for the chemical industry will be announced by top MCI officials. Panel sessions at the conference will examine trends in the chemical industry, the investment climate and opportunities for technology collaborations with research and development organizations in China. Among the speakers are Song Jian, Chairman, PRC State Science and Technology Commission; Madam Gu, Minister of the Chemical Industry; Guy Clayton, Managing Director of Ciba-Geigy (HK) Ltd.; David Chiang, President, Raychem Asia-Pacific; Zhou Guangzhao, President, Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Albert Chang, Director, Hong Kong Institute for Biotechnology.

SRI has been leading delegations to China since 1978, when it was one of the first foreign organizations to bring overseas executives into China. Over the next two decades, SRI has developed strong ties at the senior levels of government and industry in China. In 1992, SRI sponsored China's Regions Emerge, a major business conference that brought top executives from around the world to Beijing to meet with senior policymakers and enterprise leaders regarding economic issues transforming China's economy.

Based in the heart of Silicon Valley with offices in four countries, SRI International is one of the largest contract research, technology development and consulting firms in the world. Together, SRI's main business units-the Policy Division, SRI's research and development laboratories, SRI Consulting, and the David Sarnoff Research Center-provide corporations, governments and organizations worldwide with the technology research and resources needed for competing more effectively in today's changing global environment.