The China (Beijing) International Technology Transfer Convention 2018 co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Beijing Municipal Government was opened in Beijing on November 14, 2018. Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang and Mayor of Beijing Municipality Chen Jining both delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, which was chaired by Vice Mayor Yin Yong.

In his speech, Minister Wang Zhigang pointed out that China has accomplished remarkable achievements in the development of science and technology and substantially improved its comprehensive STI strength and international influence since reform and opening-up 40 years ago. This has provided strong support for the country’s socio-economic development and contributed Chinese wisdom to breaking major global science and technology bottlenecks. STI is the core driver of economic growth, while technology transfer and commercialization are the important bridge, connecting scientific research, technological innovation and industrialization and a significant channel for the transnational flow of innovation factors and the global sharing of innovation results. Minister Wang recognized that international technology transfer conforms to STI’s strong diffusion, the development trends of human civilization and economic globalization with global division of labor and cooperation, and the aspiration for building a global STI community. Minister Wang Zhigang stressed that Chinese President Xi Jinping clearly stated in his opening speech at the First China International Import Expo that China will not stop its efforts to pursue higher-quality opening-up, an open world economy and a community with a shared future for mankind, showing to the rest of the world China‘s willingness and determination to further open up and strengthen exchanges and cooperation. Minister Wang Zhigang said that mankind is now facing many global challenges, which need to be solved by bringing together global innovative wisdom, while science and technology results also need to be shared by people all over the world. He affirmed that as a responsible developing country, China is willing to deepen its exchanges and cooperation in science and technology with other countries, more steadfastly expand its opening-up in the field of science and technology, and more actively integrate itself into the global innovation system. It will abide by the general rules of international innovation governance and work with other countries to explore ways of economic and social development with STI as the driving force. Minister Wang Zhigang remarked that since its inception, China (Beijing) International Technology Transfer Convention has fully leveraged Beijing’s strengths as an STI center and an international exchange center, pooled global innovative resources and high-end talents, explored a series of new models of international technology transfer, and built itself into an internationally known brand in the field of technology transfer.

In his address, Mayor Chen Jining said that Beijing is taking a more open posture to get integrated into the global innovation system at a higher level, while openness and innovation have become the most distinctive character of Beijing in the new era. He noted that the city fully understands how important international technology transfer is in the integration of global innovation factors. Therefore, it is actively building an open and shared platform of science and technology resources, strictly protecting intellectual property rights, and accelerating innovation creation, transfer and commercialization through the accumulation, exchange and collision of innovation factors. Mayor Chen Jining remarked that as China’s new round of high-level opening up to the outside world takes off and Beijing makes full effort to build itself into a national STI center, there will be deeper and more exchanges in science and technology between the city and other countries. He said that the Beijing municipal government will provide an open platform, sound policies and high-quality services to share Beijing’s tremendous opportunities of innovation and development with the rest of the world.

Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to China Nicolas Chapuis, British Charge d’affaires to China Christina Scott, and other foreign guests attended and addressed the convention. Cai Jianing, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of MOST participated in the event.