On December 2, 2013, Minister Wan Gang met with Mr. David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science of UK. The two sides exchanged views on China-UK research and innovation cooperation, the research and Innovation fund and cooperation as well as science financing.
Minister Wan said China and UK enjoyed a sound cooperative relationship in innovation, and the eight great technologies identified by the UK highly matched China’s strategic emerging industries, which meant huge potential for further cooperation. Minister Willetts acknowledged the progress since the 6th China-UK Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Innovation, and updated on UK’s latest policies. Both sides agreed to identify priority areas, set up working groups, discuss implementation plans and promote bilateral collaboration on the innovation fund and science financing, prior to the next Joint Committee Meeting. After the meeting, the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Technology Financing Cooperation between the Department for Business Innovation & Skills of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, which set up the policy framework for future cooperation.
On the same day, under the witness of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Minister Wan and Minister Willetts initialed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of People’s Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Concerning a UK-China Research and Innovation Partnership, and agreed to establish a joint research and innovation fund for deeper collaboration.
Mr. Zhang Xiaoyuan, Director General of the Department of Facilities and Financial Support of MOST, Mr. Cao Guoying, Deputy Director General of the Department of Basic Research and Mr. Liu Jun, Counselor of the Department of International Cooperation, attended the meeting.