On June 28, 2016, Vice Minister Wang Zhigang, met with Navdeep Bains, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Guy Saint-Jacques, Canadian Ambassador to China.

Mr. Wang made a brief introduction of the recently-held National Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation and the National Innovation-driven Development Strategy Outlines, saying the Chinese government put science, technology and innovation higher on its agenda. He spoke highly of the Canadian government’s firm determination and concrete efforts to advance science, development and innovation, and hailed the sound bilateral partnership established on the basis of China-Canada Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation. He said the Chinese side was willing to work with the Canadian counterpart to put the consensus reached by the joint committee into practice. He called for both sides to deepen cooperation in rolling out favorable policies to encourage innovation, developing clean technology, and strengthening personnel exchange so as to contribute to enriching bilateral friendship and public well-being.

Mr. Bains praised the significant progress China has made in advancing science, technology and innovation. He introduced measures launched by the Canadian government to encourage technological development and innovation, saying they were willing to increase dialogues about innovation policy, science & technology cooperation and personnel exchange with the Chinese side, and hoped the academic and business communities as well as the general public from both countries can take part in the process to create an amicable atmosphere that encourages and respects innovation, pushing for scientific and technological progress and bringing tangible benefits to the people.