About 350 leading global bioscientists are meeting to discuss academic frontiers in life sciences and biotechnology at the 10th International Symposium of the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (SCBA), which began in Beijing on Monday morning .

The five-day symposium, hosted by the SCBA, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Beijing University and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, will focus on genome research, gene therapy, immunity identification, neural system research and new drug development.

Five Nobel laureates, among them David Baltimore, are attending the symposium, which is also joined by dozens of academicians from the CAS or the US National Academy of Sciences. Two Nobel laureates and other well-known bioscientists are scheduled to deliver speeches at plenary sessions, workshops or roundtable meetings.

A biotechnology exhibition on the latest technologies and products is also organized during the symposium.

Lu Yongxiang, President of the CAS, said at the symposium's opening that science and technology are among the most powerful engines pushing forward economic development and social advancement.

Scientists achieved great progress in science and technology inthe 20th century, he said. New academic frontiers might lead to breakthroughs in the 21st century.

Although rich in biological resources, China ecological system has seen continuous deterioration, he said.

"We need more biological solutions for bettering our life," said Lu, who himself is a CAS academician. He said the symposium might help Chinese and global bioscientists to learn more about each other and encourage more research cooperation between them.

Source: Xinhua