Forum on west China's sci-tech,economic development opens

　　BEIJING, Sept. 22 -- A forum on the sci-tec progress and economic development of west China opened in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on Monday.

　　The two-day forum will focus on discussing how to turn the unique resources in the west into economic advantages.

　　The forum, started in 1998, is attended by more than 200 experts and scholars from the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and 12 provinces and cities of West China

　　At the forum, the experts and scholars will hold discussions about popular topics related to the sci-tec, economic and social development of west China.

　　Zheng Mianping, researcher with the Institute of Mineral Resources of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, said that based upon the advantages of the plateau in saline resources, developing the saline industry will be an important method to promote the region's sustainable development.