Conference hails joint efforts in science with BRI partners

China will set up a global scientific research fund and increase its scientific and technological assistance to developing countries so that the wider global community can benefit from progress in science and technology, a senior Chinese official said at the first Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange as it got underway on Monday.

The two-day event in Chongqing focused on topics such as intergovernmental scientific and technological cooperation, scientific and technological cultural exchanges, industrial innovation and development, future medicine and big data.

The Chengdu-Chongqing region in Southwest China is located at the intersection of the BRI and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, with rich resources and a solid foundation for innovation, said China's Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang at the opening ceremony of the event.

"We support the Chengdu-Chongqing region in accelerating the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, building a scientific and technological innovation center with national influence, and creating a new highland for BRI scientific and technological innovation cooperation," he said.

Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun announced the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative at the event, which attracted 800 representatives from over 80 countries, regions and international organizations.

"In order to advocate and practice the concept of international scientific and technological cooperation that is open, fair, just and non-discriminatory, and to adhere to the principle that 'science knows no borders and benefits all mankind', we propose this initiative so we can work together to build a global scientific and technological community," the minister said.

The initiative calls for scientific integrity, innovative development, openness, equality and inclusiveness in international cooperation, unity in addressing global issues, as well as mutual benefit and sharing of scientific and technological innovation achievements.

"We firmly oppose the politicization, instrumentalization and weaponization of scientific and technological cooperation, and oppose taking national security as an excuse to implement scientific and technological hegemony and bullying," Yin said.

In the past decade, China has signed government-to-government agreements on scientific and technological cooperation with more than 80 countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Among them, China has supported more than 10,000 young scientists from participating countries to come to China for short-term work and exchange, and training 16,000 scientific and technological management personnel from participating countries, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Bonginkosi Emmanuel Nzimande, the minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation in South Africa, said at the event that China's initiative on science and technology cooperation will help maintain global security and global development governance, and help realize the vision of the Global Civilization Initiative and build a world of more harmony, win-win cooperation, interconnection and common prosperity.

Laksana Tri Handoko, chairman of the National Research and Innovation Agency in Indonesia, believed that the BRI will become a very good link to engage more scientists in innovation in the Southeast Asian country.