During the China-ASEAN Exposition (CAEXPO), the Fourth Forum on China-ASEAN Technology Transfer and Collaborative Innovation, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, was convened in Nanning on the afternoon of September 11th, 2016. Those attending the Opening Ceremony included Yin Hejun, Chinese Vice Minister of Science and Technology and Huang Ribo, Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as well as ministerial leaders and delegates in charge of science and technology from Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Forum features “technology transfer and innovation cooperation” with focus on business in China and ASEAN countries. On September 11-14, a series of activities in such key areas as modern agriculture, new energy and renewable energy resources, bio-medicine, electronic information, and energy conservation and environmental protection was held, including exhibition and display, industrial analysis, key projects promotion, technology matchmakings and forum discussions. The highlights of the activities included the 13th China-ASEAN Exposition Advanced Technology Show, Technology Diplomats Promotion Talks, and ASEAN and China-Japan-Korea Young Scientists Tour. The conference was attended by over 600 participants from businesses, universities, research institutes and technology transfer centers from China and ASEAN member states.

At the Opening Ceremony, Vice Minister Yin Hejun gave a keynote speech on “Innovation-Driven Regional Cooperation”. He said,“China and ASEAN member states are close partners for common development. Ever since the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Partnership Program was launched five years ago, there has been vigorous progress in technology transfer, platform construction, people-to-people exchange and regional innovation cooperation. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue relations, with unprecedented opportunities in regional technology cooperation. Innovation empowerment plays an important heralding role in the development of a new “diamond decade” and the creation of China-ASEAN Community of Shared Future. The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology will work together with all parties to support business cooperation on technology innovation, strengthen construction of science and technology platforms, expand people-to-people exchange, and tap new cooperation of marine technology. This will push forward China-ASEAN cooperation in technological innovation, upgrade regional partnership and make greater contributions to economic development and improvements of livelihood in China and ASEAN member states.”Ministerial representatives of the ASEAN countries also made keynote speeches, sharing experience and ideas on creating China-ASEAN Community of Innovation, including Madius Tangau, Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Tung Ciny, Cambodian Deputy Secretary of State of Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, Hari Purwanto, Indonesian Senior Advisor to Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education, Houmphanh Intharath, Laos Vice Minister of Science and Technology, and Soe Win, Permanent Secretary of Myanmar Ministry of Education.

Vice Minister Yin Hejun, Vice Chairman Huang Ribo and leaders of technology authorities of ASEAN member states also witnessed the signing of a batch of key projects of technological cooperation and attended the websites launching ceremonies of China-Cambodia, China-Laos and China-Myanmar Technology Transfer Centers.