Ministry of Science and Technology: A Number of Joint Laboratories Will Be Built in Countries Along the Belt and Road Initiative

Ye Dongbai, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, said in Beijing on the 10th that a number of new joint laboratories will be built in conjunction with the major scientific and technological development needs, research infrastructure, and cooperation intentions of countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Ministry of Science and Technology held a media briefing on international science and technology innovation cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative on the same day. Ye Dongbai presented a set of data to illustrate the significant achievements in science and technology innovation cooperation between China and countries along the Belt and Road Initiative in recent years.

—In terms of science and technology-humanities exchanges, the Ministry of Science and Technology launched the "Outstanding Young Scientists from Asia and Africa Working in China Program" in 2013. Currently, more than 200 young scientists from countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mongolia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Egypt have come to China to conduct research in various fields. From 2011 to 2016, the Ministry of Science and Technology held more than 200 technical training courses for developing countries, with a total of more than 5,000 trainees.

—In terms of joint laboratory construction, the Ministry of Science and Technology has successively supported the China-Mongolia Joint Laboratory for Biopolymer Applications, the China-Egypt Joint Laboratory for Renewable Energy, the China-Cambodia Joint Laboratory for Food Industry, and the China-Nepal Joint Laboratory for Biopolymer Applications. Joint research platforms such as the Joint Geographical Research Center and the China-ASEAN Joint Research and Demonstration Center for Marine Aquaculture;

—Regarding cooperation in science and technology parks, several countries, including Egypt, Iran, Mongolia, Thailand, and Laos, have explicitly expressed their need for cooperation in science and technology parks, and China has signed cooperation agreements with some of these countries;

—In terms of technology transfer and innovation, the Ministry of Science and Technology has supported the construction of the "China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center" in Guangxi, the "China-South Asia Technology Transfer Center" in Yunnan, the "China-Arab States Technology Transfer Center" in Ningxia, the "China-Central Asia Science and Technology Cooperation Center" in Xinjiang, and the "China-Central and Eastern European Countries Technology Transfer Virtual Center" in Jiangsu.

Ye Dongbai said that they will continue to actively plan and carry out work in the above four areas. Among these initiatives, a number of new joint laboratories or joint research centers will be established in key areas such as agriculture, energy, transportation, communications, resources, environment, marine, advanced manufacturing, new materials, aerospace, medicine and health, and disaster prevention and mitigation. These will fully mobilize the enthusiasm of various innovation entities, integrate functions such as joint research, exchange and training of scientific and technological talents, transfer of advanced and applicable technologies, and promotion and display of scientific and technological image, and build a long-term and stable platform for scientific and technological innovation cooperation.