（Photo by Liu Daming/MOSTIC）

On August 14, 2018, Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met with New Zealand Ambassador to China Clare Fearnley and her delegation. 

Minister Wang Zhigang welcomed Ambassador Clare Fearnley and briefed the delegation on China’s new deployments and plans in the field of science, technology and innovation since the 19th CPC National Congress, emphasizing the important role of science, technology and innovation in underpinning sustainable, sound and green economic and social development. Minister Wang Zhigang briefed Ambassador Clare Fearnley on efforts of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) to coordinate science, technology and innovation development by mobilizing universities, enterprises and research institutes from aspects of basic research, applied research and technology innovation, transfer and commercialization. Minister Wang Zhigang stressed the importance of science, technology and innovation cooperation and affirmed efforts by the two countries to hold meetings of the China-New Zealand Joint Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation, jointly fund project cooperation between strategic research alliances and support exchanges between scientists of both sides within the framework of the China-New Zealand Intergovernmental Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation. Minister Wang Zhigang hoped that the two sides would earnestly implement the Arrangement on a Five Year Roadmap for China-New Zealand Science and Technology Cooperation (2018-2022) and continue to deepen bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Clare Fearnley appreciated the Chinese government’s measures to promote the development of science, technology and innovation and pointed out that the New Zealand government attached equal importance to the vital role of science, technology and innovation in boosting productivity, improving the ecological environment and addressing climate change. Ambassador Clare Fearnley said that though new to her role as New Zealand Ambassador to China, she has already keenly felt the enthusiasm and potential of China-New Zealand cooperation in science and technology. She expected to see both sides produce more collaborative results that could benefit the two peoples. 

Present at the meeting were Cai Jianing, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of MOST, Al Ross, Science and Innovation Counselor of the New Zealand Embassy in China, Clinton Watson, Science and Innovation Counselor-designate of the New Zealand Embassy in China, and other officials.