On January 23, 2018, Wan Gang, Minister of Science and Technology, met with the delegation led by Philippe Couillard, Premier of Quebec, Canada.
Minister Wan expressed welcome to Premier Couillard and affirmed the close exchange and cooperation between the two sides over the years. He briefed Philippe Couillard on China’s Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan which outlines China’s guiding principles, strategic goals, major tasks and safeguards regarding the development of next-generation artificial intelligence by 2030, and highlighted the huge potential of cooperation between the two sides in artificial intelligence. Minister Wan pointed out that the two sides should continue to promote R&D and industrial cooperation in fields of common interests such as NEV, quantum technology and health, and provide strong support for mass innovation and entrepreneurship by the young.
Premier Couillard agreed with Minister’s suggestions and spoke highly of the bilateral joint R&D projects being implemented for years. He stated that the government of Quebec, Canada, has a strong interest in cooperation with China in such fields as clean energy, quantum science and technology and artificial intelligence and is ready to discuss with China about possibility of greater support in priority areas.
Before the meeting, Minister Wan and Premier Couillard signed the Joint Statement between the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Quebec on Science and Technology Cooperation.
The attendees also included Ye Dongbai, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Cao Guoying, Deputy Director General of the Department of High-tech Development and Industrialization, and Tian Baoguo, Deputy Director General of the Department of S&T for Social Development.