BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao is addressing members of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) to their biennial conference.

The 710-member CAS and the 721-member CAE are top honorary bodies that group the country's most prestigious scientists and engineers to advise the government and industries on key scientific and technological issues.

The 14th academician conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the 9th academician conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) are jointly held and opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 23, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

The CAS has about 90 natural scientific research institutes whereas the CAE does not have research entity.

State leaders also attending the inaugural meeting on Monday morning at the Great Hall of the People are Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, Premier Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, Li Changchun, member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Vice Premier Li Keqiang and Zhou Yongkang, also member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee.

Source: Xinhua