On October 31, 2018, China-Portugal S&T Innovation Cooperation Workshop, co-sponsored by the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, and Embassy of Portugal in China, was held at Dongjiao State Guest Hotel in Shanghai under the theme “Outlook of China-Portugal Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation” as part of the 11th Pujiang Innovation Forum and co-chaired by Fu Guoqing, Deputy Director General of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, and Prof. Paulo Ferrão, President of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal.

In his speech, Ye Dongbai, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of MOST, highlighted the crucial role of science, technology and innovation (STI) in China’s current development and noted the significant improvement of China’s overall innovation capacity in recent years. It is more and more important to engage in international cooperation in science and technology. He added that China and Portugal, the country of honor for this year’s Pujiang Innovation Forum, have a strong foundation for science and technology cooperation. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Agreement between China and Portugal on Science and Technology Cooperation. DG Ye hoped that the two countries could leverage their respective strengths to comprehensively advance the bilateral science and technology cooperation.

Portuguese Ambassador to China José Augusto Duarte gave a speech, in which he expressed thanks to the host of Pujiang Innovation Forum for inviting Portugal to be the country of honor. He said that Portugal always values the relationship with China and has been actively involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. He noted that the China-Portugal Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation has held eight meetings, highlighting the important position of science and technology cooperation in the bilateral relations. He believed that through concerted efforts of the two sides, the bilateral STI cooperation will make even greater progress and achieve more positive results. 

At the discussion session of the workshop, more than 20 Chinese and Portuguese experts had in-depth exchanges on science and technology cooperation achievements, experience and opportunities in such fields as new energy, new materials, space, marine, environment and traditional Chinese medicine.