On September 12, 2017, Party Group Secretary and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) Wang Zhigang met with the Cambodian delegation led by Tung Ciny, Chair of ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology, Chair of Cambodian Science and Technology Commission, and Deputy Secretary of State of the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft of Cambodia 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 and reached a number of consensuses on China-ASEAN cooperation in science, technology and innovation (STI) and China-Cambodia science and technology cooperation.

Secretary Wang Zhigang pointed out that China and Cambodia have a long history of traditional friendship, and the development of comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation has created a sound environment for deepening cooperation in S&T and other fields. In recent years, the two sides have supported a number of practical cooperation projects within the framework of China-ASEAN Science and Technology Partnership, including the China-Cambodia joint laboratory of food industry and China-Cambodia technology transfer center. The deepening of people-to-people exchanges in science and technology has lent strong impetus to regional STI cooperation. Secretary Wang Zhigang also introduced the contents of the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, and welcomed Cambodia and other ASEAN countries to participate in the program and seize the opportunity of “China-ASEAN Year of Innovation” in 2018 to seek new progress in STI cooperation.

Tung Ciny said he was honored to lead the Cambodian delegation to the conference once again. ASEAN and China have maintained close exchanges and cooperation within the framework of Science and Technology Partnership. China-Cambodia STI cooperation is pragmatic and efficient, and instrumental in promoting sustainable economic and social development and increasing people’s wellbeing. It is hoped that building on the existing foundation of cooperation, the two sides could further explore areas of convergence, connect development strategies, and expand China-ASEAN and China-Cambodia STI cooperation.

Ye Dongbai, Director-General of International Cooperation of the MOST, and the heads of the Science and Technology Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Gansu Province attended the meeting.