On May 16, 2017, Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang met with the Chilean delegation led by Dr. Mario Hamuy, President of the Chilean National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT).

Wan reviewed the outcomes of the 9th Meeting of the China-Chile Joint Committee on Intergovernmental Cooperation in Science and Technology and their implementation. Wan said that China-Chile cooperation enjoys broad prospects and calls for strengthened bilateral Antarctic research personnel exchange and cooperation to search solutions in response to climate change. Wan added that China is at the forefront of the world in information and communications technology and that the two sides can establish joint laboratories to promote personnel exchange, collaborative research and talent development for the benefit of the two peoples. Wan also suggested strengthening exchange on science, technology and innovation policy.

Hamuy agreed with Wan’s views and said that as China enjoys rich resources and advanced technologies and Chile is favorably located for Antarctic research, the two sides can strengthen cooperation in fields including climate change and Antarctic ecosystem research. He observed that as the largest developing country, China has valuable experience in economic and social development which Chile can draw upon, and that Chile should give full scope to the role of its S&T authority to formulate its national long- and medium-term S&T development plan and transform its economic growth mode to innovation-driven development.

The meeting was also attended by Deng Xiaoming, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science and Technology for Social Development, Cai Jianing, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, and Zhou Wenneng, Deputy Inspector of the Department of Basic Research.