By LI Linxu

The First China-Croatia Dialogue on Science and Technology Cooperation on Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization was held in Chengdu on June 15, marking a milestone in the field of sci-tech cooperation and personnel exchanges between the two countries.

The First China-Croatia Dialogue on Science and Technology Cooperation on Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization was held in Chengdu on June 15. (Photo provided by the organizer)

As the third event of China-CEEC InnoShare 2023, the conference was hosted by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC), and the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, and organized by the China-Croatia Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the Chengdu Institute of Biology, and the University of Zagreb, Croatia.

In today's world, it is only through upholding openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation that we can better deal with global challenges, said Cui Zhimin, counselor of the Secretariat of Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries, adding that China is striving to build an inclusive and mutually beneficial international partnership, as well as an open, fair and pluralistic sci-tech development environment, so as to contribute more Chinese solutions for global sustainable development.

The sci-tech cooperation between China and Croatia is very constructive, said Staša Skenžić, head of Independent Sector for the Coordination of European Affairs and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and Education of Croatia, reaffirming his desire to further strengthen the two countries' sci-tech cooperation.

The diverse and multi-dimensional sci-tech exchanges and cooperation between China and Croatia has provided important sci-tech support for ecological conservation in biodiversity hotspots, said Zhuang Jia, deputy director of CSTEC, adding that the conference is expected to provide more wisdom on global biodiversity governance.

Cooperation between Sichuan and Croatia on biodiversity conservation has great practical significance, said Li Qingfeng, deputy director of the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, vowing that Sichuan will strengthen support for international cooperation on biodiversity conservation.

The First China-Croatia Dialogue on Science and Technology Cooperation on Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization was held in Chengdu on June 15. (Photo provided by the organizer)

In 2019, the China-Croatia Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services was approved as the first batch of accredited Belt and Road joint labs.

The joint lab has achieved fruitful results, said Fang Qiang, official of the Bureau of International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), indicating that CAS will roll out a science action plan for Belt and Road sustainable development at the proper time.

Sichuan and Croatia share similar karst characteristics, with great potential for biodiversity cooperation, Mladen Juračić, academician of the Croatian Academy of Science and Arts, told S&T Daily, adding that the academy is fully supportive of the lab, as well as the Sino-Croatian sci-tech cooperation.

The First China-Croatia Dialogue on Science and Technology Cooperation on Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization was held in Chengdu on June 15. (Photo provided by the organizer)

Experts from both countries shared their findings on topics such as biological invasion prevention, biodiversity conservation, and wetland management.

Wu Ning, director of the Chengdu Institute of Biology, CAS, told S&T Daily that the joint lab is an open platform, and scientists from around the world are welcome to participate in the platform.

The lab's executive chief Sun Geng presented the lab's latest developments, such as the ecological restoration work in Jiuzhaigou by successfully applying moss to restore bare rock slope after the earthquake, and delegates from both sides exchanged their views on its future development.

Following the conference, the Croatian team discussed future cooperation plans with their Chinese counterparts in Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve and Huanglong Scenic Area on biodiversity conservation.