"China-EU High-level Forum on S&T Strategy" was held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 12 and 13 of May. This is an important activity jointly sponsored by MOST of China, the Research Directorate-Generate of EU, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Presidency of the EU) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and EU. The two sides passed a joint declaration titled "China-EU S&T Cooperation: Establishment of a Strategic Partnership Based on Knowledge", which marked a comprehensive China-EU S&T co-operation stage.
State Councilor CHEN Zhili attended the opening ceremony and delivered an address. Janez Potočnik, EU Research Commissioner, XU Guanhua, Minister of Science and Technology of China, Jean ASSELBORN, Deputy Prime Minister of Luxemburg, and ZHANG Yesui, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China made keynote speeches. There were altogether over 30 reports and discussions at the forum, which ended up with the round table symposium co-chaired by high-level officials from both sides.
With the main theme of "S&T Development in the New Century and China-EU S&T Cooperation", this forum covered 6 special topics: Development Strategy, Industrial R&D, Policy, Science, Talent & Institution and International Cooperation. The forum was aimed at exchanging views on the world trend of S&T development and the S&T strategy and policy of China, EU and its member states; promoting and providing help for the formulation and implementation of their S&T strategies and plans. The documents of common understanding concluded at the forum will guide and accelerate the in-depth development of China-EU S&T cooperation.
At present, EU and China are at a flourishing stage of cooperation in research unparalleled in history. 2005 is the 30th anniversary of the establishment of formal relations between China and EU. In 2006, the 6th Framework Program for research and technological development of EU will come to an end and the 7th Framework Program will be drawn up and launched while China will execute its Eleventh Five-year Plan and medium and long-term S&T development plan. Great potentials lie in the S&T cooperation between China and EU. The two sides shall maintain and develop a long-term S&T cooperation ties to carry forward the comprehensive bilateral partnership.
