Representatives of China's economically flourishing Zhejiang Province yesterday cordially invited research institutes and universities world-wide to set up their branch units there at a press conference yesterday in Beijing.

Jiang Taiwei, director of the province's department of science and technology, said the province urgently needs high-tech specialists and research and development institutions to further propel its economy, which is ranked fourth among China's provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in terms of volume of gross domestic product (GDP).

The province plans to set up at least 50 high-ranking research and development bodies with renowned enterprises and universities from all over the world, said Jiang.

The province will soon enter into partnership with prestigious Tsinghua University to establish a research institute in Zhejiang.

The institute is aimed at providing high-tech and educational support for the Yangtze River Delta area, he said.

The Yangtze River Delta region, located in East China's coastal area with Shanghai as a centre, covers Shanghai and 14 neighouring cities in northern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu.

The region accounts for 2 per cent of China's total land space and 10 per cent of its total population approximately, but contributed 22 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2002.

"We need to form partnerships with branch institutes in a bid to maintain the fast pace of our economy," said Jiang.

"Despite our robust economy, Zhejiang is weak in higher education and research and development."

Jiang disclosed the blueprint of the province at yesterday's press conference.

He said his province will organize serial activities to promote science and technology exchanges over the Internet from November 20 to 25.

He said an online technology fair in the province has played an important role in linking up technology holders with market.

Since Jiang's department opened the technology fair at www.51jishu.com in October of last year, more than 3,000 contracts for roughly 2.7 billion yuan (US$325 million) have been clinched with help of the virtual fair.

Jiang said his province's plan to usher in renowned research and development institutes from around the world will not only benefit Zhejiang, but also the whole Yangtze River delta.

Recently, the State Development and Reform Commission decided to work out within its 11th Five Year Plan (2005-10) an overall and long-term scheme on the regional integrative development for the Delta area.

Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang have reached a consensus that the current regional co-operation will focus on transportation, environmental protection, information, tourism and natural gas pipeline networking.

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