From September 25 to 26, 2019, the Third China-Russia Innovation Dialogue, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, was held in Shanghai.

Vice Science and Technology Minister Wang Xi, Vice Mayor Xu Kunlin of Shanghai and Director Artyom Shadrin of the Department of Strategic Development and Innovation of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Vice Minister Wang Xi said that science, technology and innovation are an important part of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era and is gradually becoming a new highlight in the substantial and upgraded bilateral relations thanks to the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries. The leaders of the two countries signed the joint statement on elevating bilateral relations to the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era in June and the joint communique of the 24th regular meeting between heads of government in September. In both the statement and communique, the two sides agree to expand the depth and breadth of cooperation in science, technology and innovation, launch the China-Russia Year of Science, Technology and Innovation in 2020 and 2021, continue to regularly hold the China-Russia Innovation Dialogue, promote the development of the China-Russia Joint Science, Technology and Innovation Fund, push forward cooperation in mega-science, and strengthen exchanges of and cooperation among science, technology and innovation talent of the two countries.

To follow through on the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries on deepening cooperation in science, technology and innovation, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Russian Ministry of Economic Development have jointly held the China-Russia Innovation Dialogue for three consecutive years. The Dialogue focuses on important issues such as innovation strategy and planning, innovation policy and mechanism, science and technology related finance, and tech-based SMEs, aiming to promote practical cooperation between innovation and development institutions, tech-based enterprises, science parks, incubators and venture capital institutions of the two countries. According to the Joint Declaration on China-Russia Innovation Dialogue signed in 2017 and the China-Russia Innovation Cooperation Work Plan (Roadmap) drawn in 2018, the two sides have made steady progress in establishing the China-Russia Joint Science, Technology and Innovation Fund, promoting science & technology and industry cooperation, and carrying out joint research on innovation policy and strategy.

Director Artyom Shadrin remarked that Russia and China are friendly neighbors and maintain close ties. He said that the Russian Ministry of Economic Development has always attached great importance to cooperation with its Chinese partners in the field of innovation and development and that innovation cooperation has become one of the elements and priorities of economic cooperation between the two countries. He noted that the China-Russia Innovation Dialogue will further expand exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian innovation institutions in the fields of innovation policy research, supply of innovative products and joint projects. He hoped that the two sides will leverage the Dialogue and its supporting events to establish closer cooperative relations, boost the market in bilateral innovation cooperation, strengthen cooperation between Chinese and Russian business sectors and promote the establishment of bilateral interaction mechanisms.

Vice Mayor Xu Kunlin said that opening up and innovation is the most distinctive feature of Shanghai. He remarked that in recent years Shanghai has endeavored to implement the innovation-driven development strategy, accelerated efforts to build itself into an internationally influential center of science, technology and innovation, and strived to make the city an important hub of the global innovation network and a source of new academic ideas, scientific discoveries, technological innovations and new industrial directions in the world. He also said that Shanghai has responded positively to the Belt and Road Initiative and carried out in-depth science and technology exchanges and cooperation with Russia featured by high-level interaction, sound cooperation and broad communication, making the city a window on China-Russia friendly exchanges and innovation cooperation.

During the Third China-Russia Innovation Dialogue, the two sides held various events, such as Thematic Forum, China-Russia Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, China-Russia Innovation Investment Forum and China-Russia AI Workshop. Through this dialogue, the two sides will continue to deliver on the China-Russia Innovation Cooperation Work Plan, further promote the integration of science and technology with industry and finance, foster better innovation environment and pool innovation resources, so as to build an open, inclusive, mutually beneficial and win-win China-Russia innovation partnership.