The 4th World Science and Technology Development Forum is held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, November 27, 2022. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By Staff Reporters

Since 2012, China has been continuously strengthening sci-tech cooperation between governments, proactively participating in global innovation governance, implementing the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, thus promoting international cooperation and exchange in sci-tech innovation, said Liang Yingda, director-general of Department of Strategy and Planning of Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), at a press conference recently.

China has established sci-tech cooperation relationships with over 160 countries and regions, signing 114 inter-governmental sci-tech cooperation agreements, according to Liang.

Supported by key projects of MOST, such as International Cooperation in Science and Technology Innovation between Governments, nearly 2,000 programs with a total funding of 10 billion RMB have been jointly approved within more than 60 countries, regions and international organizations, covering agriculture, energy, environment, life health and IT.

In particular, China has been working on combating the COVID-19 pandemic via sci-tech cooperation since its outbreak. Joint research on medicine, vaccines, and tests has also been conducted with 17 countries, including the U.S., UK, Malaysia and South Africa. 

China has also taken part in International Big Science Programs and Large-scale Scientific Facilities, including the Square Kilometre Array. Being involved in the global innovation governance of public health and clean energy, the country has put forward innovation motions and cooperation initiatives in multilateral mechanisms, such as G20 Science, Technology & Innovation Ministers Meeting, Meeting of Ministers of Science and Technology of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and BRICS Science & Technology Ministers Meeting.

Under the Belt and Road Initiative, 53 joint laboratories were constructed. Support has been given to young scientists for 3,500 person-times to come to China for research work for over half a year. Training has been offered to more than 15,000 overseas sci-tech personnel. The Alliance of International Science Organizations initiated by China now has 67 members.

Eight transnational technology transfer platforms have been built to cooperate with ASEAN, South Asia, the Arab countries, Central Asia, central and east European countries, Africa, SCO and Latin America.

"We encourage research institutes, universities, enterprises and local governments to actively conduct international cooperation," said Liang, adding that the number of sci-tech papers co-authored by Chinese researchers and partners from 169 countries reached 183,000 in 2021, increasing by 1.5 times than that of 2015.