On September 9, 2021, the 9th Forum on China-ASEAN Technology Transfer and Collaborative Innovation, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the People‘s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, was successfully held in Nanning, Guangxi. Li Ping, member of the CPC leading group of the Ministry of Science and Technology and president of Science and Technology Daily, and Fei Zhirong, vice chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, attended the conference and delivered speeches. The ministers or vice ministers of science and technology authorities from six ASEAN countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, delivered video speeches.

Li Ping noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. Over the past 30 years, under the guidance of the leaders of China and ASEAN countries, China-ASEAN science, technology and innovation (STI) cooperation has continued to scale new heights. In particular, since the launch of the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Action Plan proposed by President Xi Jinping at the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May 2017, China-ASEAN STI cooperation has grown in both breadth and depth and achieved encouraging results.

To further deepen China-ASEAN STI cooperation, Li Ping made a four-point proposal on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Technology: First, taking cooperation to a higher level and consolidating the foundation of cooperation. Seizing the opportunity of the joint release of the China-ASEAN Action Plan for Building Closer Science, Technology and Innovation Partnership for the Future (2021-2025), the two sides should actively implement a series of cooperation initiatives based on the region’s development needs and common challenges, and inject strong impetus into China-ASEAN STI cooperation through high-level mechanisms such as the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Ministers’Meeting. Second, pooling innovation resources to step up platform construction. The two sides should ramp up cooperation in such key areas as sustainable development, health and digital technology, and actively support the construction of alliances, bases and networks for China-ASEAN STI cooperation, so as to provide more robust support and services for deepening cooperation between the industry, academia and research communities. Third, making extensive contact and deepening people-to-people exchanges. Building on the achievement of S&T people-to-people exchanges, China will work with the ASEAN side to explore innovative means of cooperation, jointly launch S&T people-to-people exchange programs dedicated for ASEAN countries, and further strengthen the foundation of S&T people-to-people exchanges. Fourth, sharing development opportunities and jointly conducting innovation and entrepreneurship. China will further leverage the role of the China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center, promote the exchange and synergy of regional sci-tech parks and innovation teams, organize and carry out special technology transfer campaigns for promoting sustainable development, and actively share outstanding technology achievements with ASEAN countries.

The 9th Forum on China-ASEAN Technology Transfer and Collaborative Innovation was held under the theme of “Fostering Opportunities through Innovation and Development and Winning the Future with Sustainable Development”. The key events of the forum included the opening ceremony, the 3rd ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Young Scientists Forum, the Exhibition on Advanced Technologies of the 18th China-ASEAN Expo, and the China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Matchmakings.