The Vice mayor of Beijing, Zhao Fengtong, delivers a speech outlining plans to develop a high-tech Beijing at the 'Forum on Information and Innovation Strategy' on Monday, Nov 11th, 2008. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Zhang Zhang]

Beijing is to put more emphasis on both talent training and hunting for more highly competent people from around the world just to help increase the city's innovative competitiveness.

Zhao Fengtong, the city's vice Mayor, made the remarks on Monday while addressing the Forum on Information and Innovation Strategy, a sub-forum of the 2008 Nobel Laureates Beijing Forum that opened in Beijing the same day.

The mayor said that Beijing plans to transform it into a world innovation centre.

He adds that the city will continue to follow a method that had proved successful during the Beijing Olympics in attracting and managing international staff.

"We will further improve our policies in pooling over more talents from overseas and also ensure those who come to serve in Beijing benefit from their endeavours. As a backup for our policies, we will sep up more talent hunting centres overseas."

The vice mayor also promised new infrastructures in the city to provide the recruits with a comfortable living and working environment.

Beijing's expenditure on scientific projects exceeded 52 billion yuan in 2007, accounting for more than five percent of the city's yearly outlay. The added value gained from the information and hi-tech industries reached over 159 billion yuan and 72 billion yuan, respectively.

Zhao Fengtong said efforts to increase the technological innovation capabilities of local corporations will be given top priority in the city's move to re-structure its industries.

The municipal government hopes to give financial support to small and medium-sized companies, he stressed.

"The government will lead the way in offering loan guarantees for innovation-oriented start-up companies and boost the development of venture investments. Plans for a bank to serve small technical firms are also in the works."

Efforts will also be made to upgrade the standards of the Zhongguancun Science Park in Haidian District, the home of many leading domestic high-tech brands.

The Nobel Laureates Beijing Forum 2008, with the theme of "Information and Innovation", commenced on Monday. The participants will discuss a series of topics such as the development of computing, e-business and e-commerce during its four-day session.

Seven former Nobel laureates and four winners of the US Turing Award are to attend the forum and take part in activities to popularize science and technology.