Sino-French technological cooperation achieves groundbreaking, forward-looking results: minister

China

Sino-French technological cooperation achieves groundbreaking, forward-looking results: minister

2024-05-05 17:57 Last Updated At：20:57

The past six decades of technological cooperation between China and France since the establishment of official diplomatic relations has achieved groundbreaking and forward-looking results, said Yin Hejun, Minister of Science and Technology.

Yin made the remarks in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) before Chinese President Xi Jinping started his state visit to France on Sunday, listing an array of landmark projects that the two countries have cooperated on since the establishment of official diplomatic relations 60 years ago.

"For the past 60 years, China-France relationship has consistently been at the forefront of China's relations with Western countries. The technological cooperation between the two countries has provided China with many valuable insights and experiences that can be drawn upon for its technological innovation and development. For example, in 1991, both countries launched Sino-French Advanced Research Program, or PRA. This was the first joint research funding mechanism established between China and a foreign country. In 1997, China and France established the Joint Laboratory for Information, Automation, and Applied Mathematics (LIAMA). This is the first laboratory built between China and a foreign country. LIAMA pioneered the platform-based approach for conducting international cooperation. The results of Sino-French technological cooperation are groundbreaking and forward-looking," said Yin.

The minister went on to note that the foundation of bilateral technology collaboration between China and France is solid as the two countries share the common belief in promoting scientific research globally and have similar science and technology development policies.

"Firstly, both China and France are major players in global innovation and addressing global challenges. They share the belief in science without borders, advocating for open, fair, and non-discriminatory international scientific cooperation. Secondly, our policies have a significant impact. China supports technological innovation and industrial development through five major science and technology plans, while France drives economic growth through initiatives like the 'France 2030' investment plan. They have similar goals and direction in science and technology," he said.

The minister also stressed that the future technology collaboration between China and France is promising even amid complex international situation, but further cooperation should be built on strengthened confidence between the two countries.

"During the joint committee meeting held in Paris, I also visited institutions such as CNRS (National Center of Scientific Research), meeting old and new friends from the scientific community. Overall, the attitude towards dialog and cooperation has been very positive, but facing the new international situation, they may have some doubts and concerns. However, by addressing these issues clearly and confidently, any doubts can be dispelled. Confidence is more precious than gold, and with unwavering confidence, the foundation of cooperation remains stable," he said.

Saudi Arabia to enhance cooperation with China in energy transition: entrepreneur

2024-05-19 02:22 Last Updated At：06:17

China is a significant cooperation partner to Saudi Arabia in its energy transition and sustainable development, the CEO of Saudi state-owned petrochemicals group Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) said at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Riyadh Conference, which was held in the Saudi capital on May 6.

The event, which drew experts and dignitaries from 180 countries and regions around the world to share insights on the ongoing energy transition and sustainable development, was co-organized by SABIC, which is also a co-sponsor of the BFA.

Abdulrahman Al Fageeh, SABIC CEO and board member of the BOAO Forum for Asia, said in an interview with China Global Television Network that China was also a significant market for SABIC products.

"For the energy transition there's a lot of misleading about the understanding of the energy transition. Energy transition is about the energy intensity, about the improvement in the energy itself, about using more resources for energy for better, also to provide the energy required for development. As you know, China is a big market for chemicals, it represents about 40 percent of the demand. Also, us, we in SABIC, I can talk about SABIC, we have a lot of investments in China. Recently we announced one of the largest with the chemical complex in Fujian, in the Gulei Park. We believe in the Chinese market, and we consider China as a strategic market for SABIC," he said.

Al Fageeh said his company was building partnerships across the world in its drive towards sustainability.

"Collaboration and partnership is the way that it should be, and this is what we in SABIC have started as a company to be sustainable based on the partnership with the whole block. More than 12 partners are working with us including a lot of them from China. This is the way it works. We believe in collaboration, we believe in partnership and we believe this is the only thing that can bring all nations together," he said.

Al Fageeh said that SABIC is a key player in Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, a government-led project to diversify the nation's economy.

"First, SABIC is one of the enablers of the Vision 2030 of the kingdom. I'm glad you have visited the home of Innovation to give you a demonstration of how this application is applied in life and we continue to focus in SABIC on the innovation and research for the sustainable innovative solutions that come from the chemical industry," he said.

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in founded in 2001 with a focus on Asia and a global perspective. It offers a high-level platform for dialogues between leaders from governments, enterprises, experts and academia to discuss economic, social and environmental issues, thereby promoting economic cooperation and supporting the sustainable development of Asia's economy.