An international symposium on biotechnology and medicine opened in Shanghai Wednesday.

A dozen of the world's leading scientists in this field will exchange their latest research on genetic therapy, stem cell bio- engineering and other subjects at the two-day gathering.

A large-scale exhibition which runs parallel to the symposium has attracted biotechnology companies and laboratory equipment manufacturers from the United State, Japan, Germany and other countries.

Bio-tech products and natural resources-based medicine have been listed as a key field for Shanghai's pharmaceutical industry in the coming five years.
Emphasis will also be placed on the research into the human genome structure and function, the search for functional genes and the development of genetic therapies and chips.