The Pudong New District of the city of Shanghai played host to more than three dozen Chinese from North America, Europe, and other countries at a gathering, on Dec 28, where they were asked to give their ideas on how the city reach its goal of becoming a scientific and technological innovation center with global influence, Pudong Times has reported.

The organizers of the event, which runs for five days, say it is part of Pudong's project for attracting talented people and that the participants include young people from Harvard and Yale universities, leading scientists, and finance experts who were carefully selected, with 85 percent having a PhD and nearly half of them having been company presidents or CEOs.

The visitors gave their ideas on IT, bio-medicines, advanced materials and financial development, based on their experience and their impressions of Pudong. One of the participants, Yu Chang, president of the Anpac Bio-Medical Science Co, suggested that Pudong shall use its large number of educated people and investment and financing institutions to explore the medical industry, for example, setting up a clinical laboratory center.

In commenting on the meeting, the vice-director of Pudong organization department, Xu Guoping, said that they expect more talented overseas Chinese to return to start their own business in Pudong and work to promote the city's development.

The visitors also got a tour of the city's Zhangjiang High-tech Park, Pudong Software Park and Lingang area which gave them a better understanding of the city.