On October 24, 2019, Vice Minister of Science and Technology Huang Wei met in Beijing with visiting Minister of State Michelle Müntefering of the German Federal Foreign Office and her delegation. The two sides conducted in-depth discussions on China-Germany relations and cooperation in science, technology and innovation.
Vice Minister Huang Wei said that China attaches great importance to science, technology and innovation and international cooperation in science and technology. He noted that the important meeting between the leaders of China and Germany in September this year charts a course and mapped out a blueprint for in-depth cooperation in science, technology and innovation between the two countries in the new historical period. He pointed out that committed to innovation and cooperation for win-win outcomes, China and Germany have seen cooperation in science and technology gather momentum in recent years and the two sides have built a comprehensive framework for intergovernmental cooperation. Going forward, Vice Minister Huang Wei put forward three suggestions: 1. strengthen strategy connectivity and policy communication and lay a solid foundation for further collaboration; 2. strengthen cooperation between research institutions, and expand the fields and scope of science, technology and innovation cooperation between the two countries; and 3. serve as a role model in international cooperation and work together to cope with global challenges. Vice Minister Huang Wei said that the Chinese side is willing to work with the German side to deliver on the agreement reached by the heads of state of the two countries, deepen cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovation, and contribute more to the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany.
Minister of State Michelle Müntefering echoed Vice Minister Huang Wei‘s views and suggestions and spoke highly of the cooperation between China and Germany in the field of science and technology over the past 40 plus years. She said that Germany values cooperation with China and that German research institutions, including the Humboldt Foundation, have established extensive contacts with their Chinese counterparts and carried out fruitful cooperation. Minister of State Michelle Müntefering pointed out that the German side is willing to maintain dialogue with the Chinese side and promote the application of scientific and technological inventions for the benefit of mankind.
Deputy Director-General Xu Jie of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, German Ambassador to China Clemens von Goetze, and Director Schüller of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research attended the meeting.