Ministers attended the forum on September 2 (PHOTO: The Ministry of Science and Technology of China)

By Staff Reporters

Held online on September 2, the 4th Forum of Science, Technology and Innovation of China -Community of Latin American and the Caribbean States welcomed multiple ministers from Latin America and the Caribbean countries (LAC) and China, to discuss collaboration on science and technology.

All participants from LAC expressed their wishes to renew their collaboration with China, highlighting several on-trend technological realms, including clean energy, agricultural technology, and communications and satellite, testifying to the long history of collaboration between the two regions.

"This forum has become one of the most important platforms for China and LAC to understand the development gaps on both sides, helping reach a consensus, while tightening our ties," said Wang Zhigang, China's minister of science and technology, adding that China is willing to deepen the science and technology collaboration with LAC through exploiting mutual advantages, and expand collaborative areas by adopting a more inclusive attitude in the face of increasingly serious global challenges.

Flavio Salazar, Chile's minister of science, technology, knowledge and innovation, for example, said that having seen achievements through collaborations with China in climate change and satellites, Chile expects more in emerging technologies such as medicine and space. He called for further steps in enhancing international science and technology innovation and collaboration, to facilitate regional development and alleviate poverty.

Today, the trade volume between China and LAC has increased more than 17-fold compared to 2001, the time when China joined the WTO. The forum continues to encourage both sides to explore the development potentials that can be mutually beneficial.

A memorandum of understanding on cooperation has been signed to facilitate the construction of a food innovation center for sustainable development between China and LAC countries on September 2.