Executive Summary of the TWAS Beijing Office in 2004

1. Launched its website both in English and Chinese, and, through it, the Office served the TWAS members and other scientists in the region.

2. Started to put in practice the CAS/TWAS Fellowship Program. At present, CAS and TWAS have teamed up to offer: Up to 20 fellowships each year to young scientists who wish to undertake the last year of their Ph.D. research in China; up to 15 fellowships each year to scientists who wish to pursue postdoctoral research in natural sciences; and up to 15 fellowships each year to visiting scholars who wish to pursue advanced research in natural sciences.

3. CAS-TWAS-WMO FORUM—The Third International Symposium on Extreme Weather and Climate Events, Their Dynamics and Predictions was held in Beijing from October 12 to 15, 2004. More than 100 participants from Pakistan, India, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, UK, U.S.A, France, Germany, Australia, Brazil etc. attended the Symposium.

4. Discussions have been made with the concerned agency of the Chinese Government for programs to promote the economic development and scientific cooperation in the developing countries:

--High-level seminar of S&T management in China;

--Symposium of outstanding scientists from the developing countries;

--Advanced and applied technological programs with the concerned countries in Asia and Africa.

5. Some TWAS Fellows took part in the 5 th General Assembly of the Association of Academies of Sciences in Asia (AASA), which was held in Dalian, China, in September 2004, and the inauguration of TWAS Beijing office was announced on the occasion.

The proposed work plan by TWAS Beijing Office in 2005

•  Promoting the activities of TWAS and its affiliated organizations (IAP, TWNSO, TWOWS) in the region, as TWAS strategic plan.

•  Identifying the eminent scientists in the country and nominate them for TWAS membership and awards. Meanwhile, accessing the vitality and the effectiveness of TWAS activities in the country.

•  TWAS Fellows' meeting in the region to discuss the current and TWAS future activities and strategic plan and other common concerned issues will be organized in the year of 2005.

•  A public lecture or workshop on the special scientific issues in the world today is being planned for 2005.

•  Compiling and publication of the above mentioned proceedings of the public lecture or workshop as well as to issue the Newsletters (two editions each year) in 2005.