On September 6, 2019, the 2nd China-Mongolia Technology Transfer & Innovation Cooperation Conference was held in Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The conference was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the People‘s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports of Mongolia. Lu Ming, member of the CPC Leading Group of MOST, attended the meeting and delivered a keynote speech. Ouyang Xiaohui, Vice-Chairman of the People’s Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and G. Ganbayar, Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Sports of Mongolia, also attended and addressed the conference.
Lu Ming said at the conference that science and technology cooperation has long been an important boost for the friendly relations between China and Mongolia. He noted that the two countries have long witnessed close cooperation in science and technology and achieved encouraging results in animal husbandry on pasture, ecology and environment, biomedicine, dairy, materials, among other fields. Science and technology cooperation has increasingly become the focus of the comprehensive strategic partnership and a highlight of people-to-people exchanges between China and Mongolia.
Lu Ming put forward several initiatives on further deepening China-Mongolia cooperation in science and technology: first, the two sides should increase dialogue and communication and develop top-level design to connect China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Mongolia’s Prairie Road Initiative; second, in response to major science and technology needs in both countries, the two sides should continue to implement intergovernmental research projects, build joint laboratories and encourage research institutes, tech companies and other entities in China and Mongolia to establish multi-level research cooperation platforms; and third, the two sides should continue to support exchanges and mutual visits of researchers between the two countries, give full play to the positive role of local and non-governmental science and technology organizations, and establish diverse mechanisms for science, technology and people-to-people exchanges in multiple fields. Lu Ming stressed that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mongolia. He hoped that the science communities of the two countries will, at a new starting point, work together to further raise the level of science and technology cooperation and make new contribution to the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
The conference was one of the main events of the Third China-Mongolia Expo. With the theme of“Promote the Silk Road Spirit, Seek Innovative Development, Enhance Mutual Trust and Interaction and Facilitate Pragmatic Cooperation”, the event brought together more than 240 representatives from universities, research institutes, enterprises, science parks and science and technology authorities of China and Mongolia. 19 science and technology cooperation agreements were signed and a handbook, covering 111 technology and project cooperation needs, was released. The event further promoted the development of technologies in key industries and frontier fields in both countries, and boosted more and better cooperation in science, technology and innovation between China and Mongolia.