On September 12, 2017, Party Group Secretary and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Wang Zhigang met with the delegation of Lao Ministry of Science and Technology to the 14th China-ASEAN Expo and the Fifth Forum on China-ASEAN Technology Transfer and Collaborative Innovation in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on enhancing science and technology cooperation between China and Laos.

Secretary Wang Zhigang welcomed the Lao delegation, and pointed out that China and Laos are close partners. The two sides have carried out cooperation under the framework of China-ASEAN Science and Technology Partnership, including in the areas of joint laboratory, technology transfer center and pilot science park. The training session on applicable technologies and science and technology management hosted by the MOST China is welcomed by the Lao side, and people-to-people exchange in science and technology is making new progress. Secretary Wang Zhigang talked about the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, and expressed the hope that science, technology and innovation cooperation will add new dimension to the China-Laos Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Taking the opportunity of the “China-ASEAN Year of Innovation” in 2018, China will carry out innovation cooperation with Laos to increase the dynamism of bilateral relations.

The head of the Lao delegation, Vice Minister of Science and Technology Sourioudong Sundara said that the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology attaches importance to exchanges and cooperation with China in science and technology. Laos is willing to maintain communication with the Chinese side on the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan and discuss concrete steps to promote bilateral cooperation on science, technology and innovation.

Huang Ribo, Vice Chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Ye Dongbai, Director-General of International Cooperation of MOST, and the head of the Department of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province, were present at the meeting.