China needs to tap into foreign experts

China needs to draw from experience and wisdom of overseas talent when it comes to boosting its economy and pursuing a more sustainable development, Vice Premier Ma Kai told engineers and other experts from the United States on Friday in Beijing.

A delegation of more than 80 professionals was invited by the Chinese Institute of Engineers –USA to attend a weeklong Sino-American Technology and Engineering Conference that concluded on Friday at the Great Hall of the People.

Earlier, the team was divided into groups to conduct field study in different cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou, to provide guidance and consultancy for local governments and companies on waste water, air pollution treatment, big aircraft production and other pressing issues that China faces in terms of applied science and technology.

David Y Fong, a participant at the conference and vice president of the CITS Group Inc, an information service company based in San Jose, California, said China should make more efforts to improve its innovation capability to end the model of "Copy to China" that allows Chinese companies to make quick buck from imitating their foreign counterparts but fails to master the cutting-edge technology needed to lead the world.