On March 28, 2019, Zhang Jianguo, Vice Minister of Science and Technology and Administrator of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, met with Jorge A. Motta, National Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation of Panama, and his delegation in Beijing. The two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges of views on China-Panama cooperation in STI.

Vice Minister Zhang Jianguo briefed the Panamanian side on the STI development in China, pointing out that the Chinese government attaches great importance to STI and that China has significantly improved its science, technology, and inovation(STI) capabilities in recent years. He noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Panama have engaged in high-level exchanges and set clear directions for bilateral cooperation in various fields. Vice Minister Zhang Jianguo affirmed that STI cooperation is an important part of China-Panama bilateral relations and that China is willing to carry out practical cooperation with Panama by establishing intergovernmental mechanisms, co-funding joint research projects and engaging in people-to-people exchanges so as to contribute to the economic and social progress and the well-being of the people of the two countries.

Secretary Motta appreciated China‘s achievements in the field of STI and said that the Panamanian government is paying growing attention to STI. He remarked that Panama is willing to strengthen science and technology cooperation with China in the fields of natural resources, agriculture, ocean, health and logistics and will actively solicit proposals for joint projects and promote the establishment of partnerships between scientists of the two countries.

Deputy Director-General Cai Jianing of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology attended the meeting.