From June 13 to 14, 2017, the First China-Russia Innovation Dialogue co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) of the Russian Federation was held in Beijing. Huang Wei, Vice Minister of MOST and Oleg Fomichev, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation attended the opening ceremony of the Plenary Session on June 14. Director General Ye Dongbai of the Department of International Cooperation of MOST presided over the session which was attended by more than 150 delegates from governments, universities, research institutions, high-tech parks, industry alliances, investment institutions, technology transfer agencies and innovative enterprises of both countries.
   
Vice Minister Huang said that with the continuous deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia, the two sides have more and more shared interests in development. The Innovation Dialogue is an important measure to enhance connections of development strategies and the alignment of the Belt & Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union. It aims to deepen studies and dialogues about innovation policies between the two countries, promote top-level design of China-Russia collaboration in innovation, and advance in-depth cooperation between Chinese and Russian technical micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and the capital markets. It will open new horizons for the pragmatic cooperation between China and Russia and inject a powerful impetus into the overall development and revitalization of the Eurasian continent.

Deputy Minister Fomichev noted that China-Russia cooperation in innovation is a priority of development for the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries. China and Russia have clear complementarity and broad prospects for cooperation in innovation. Undertaking pragmatic innovation dialogues and cooperation will not only have a positive impact on the economic modernization and economic and trade relationships of the two countries but also bring new opportunities to the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt & Road Initiative.

At the plenary session, the two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on strategies and policies on science, technology and innovation (STI), national innovation systems in China and Russia, policies for regional innovation systems and industry clusters, technology finance and bilateral cooperation in STI and development of MSMEs and other topics, and made suggestions for collaboration in innovation and common development.

The First Session of the China-Russia Committee on Coordination of Innovation Cooperation was also held on the afternoon of June 14. The two sides summed up achievements of the first Innovation Dialogue and planned for collaboration in innovation in the next stage. The two sides signed a joint declaration of the 1st China-Russia Innovation Dialogue and approved the 2017-2020 work plan for collaboration in innovation.