From May 23rd to 28th of 2008, the Department of International Cooperation successfully organized the S&T Diplomat Service Initiative in Fujian Province. The service team, featuring nine incumbent and soon-to-be S&T diplomats, participated in the S&T Diplomat Forum and Business Match-making Meeting, visited factories and companies, and talked with local entrepreneurs and technicians. The aim is to have a better understanding of what the region wants from technical cooperation with foreign countries, and help build connections among domestic and foreign universities, research institutes and enterprises.

Launched on March 24th this year by MOST, the initiative helped Chinese S&T diplomats to build the bridge for S&T cooperation between China and the rest of the world. Given the ministerial-provincial coordination mechanism, the diplomats are expected to play a bigger role in promoting business innovation, local economic growth and scientific development.