Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang led a delegation to attend the 16th Meeting of the China-Japan Joint Committee on Intergovernmental Science and Technology Cooperation in Japan on August 22-25, 2018. The delegation also visited relevant research institutions, universities and enterprises in Japan.

During the visit, Minister Wang Zhigang, Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and Ambassador for Science and Technology Cooperation Takeshi Nakane of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly attended and addressed the 16th Meeting of the Joint Committee. Minister Wang Zhigang exchanged in-depth views with Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on further promoting China-Japan cooperation in science and innovation. Minister Wang Zhigang pointed out that China and Japan are complementary in science and innovation with great potential for development and that China is willing to work with Japan to deliver the important agreement reached between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on strengthening bilateral cooperation in science and innovation and to leverage the active role of science and technology cooperation in promoting bilateral relations and common development. Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi welcomed Minister Wang Zhigang and pointed out that Japan would seize the opportunity and actively promote China-Japan cooperation in science and innovation to develop in a promising direction and achieve more practical results. During the meeting of the Joint Committee and bilateral talks, the two sides also discussed and exchanged views on the future direction of bilateral cooperation and reached agreement on building joint research platforms. The two sides also jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People‘s Republic of China and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on Cooperation in Co-Building Joint Research Platforms.

During his visit, Minister Wang Zhigang also visited Tokyo University, Kyushu University, National Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Nissan Motor Corporation, and Yaskawa Electric Corporation.