On December 14, 2021, the second meeting of the China-Tajikistan Science and Technology Cooperation Committee was held via video link. The Chinese Vice Minister of Science and Technology Zhang Guangjun and President of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan Farhod Rahimi co-chaired the meeting.

 

The two sides exchanged information on their latest science, technology and innovation (STI) policies and plans, and reviewed the progress of STI cooperation since the first meeting of the Committee. The two sides agreed to further expand bilateral cooperation on science and technology by launching joint calls for proposals and making available funding, enhancing the mobility between young scientists and researchers, and deepening cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

 

Vice Minister Zhang Guangjun said that the two heads of state have reached important consensus on promoting cooperation in the fields of trade, agriculture and digital economy, with priority on the development of key Belt and Road projects, and this charts the course for advancing China-Tajikistan relations and practical cooperation. Vice Minister Zhang pointed out that science and technology cooperation is an important part of the China-Tajikistan comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides should leverage the mechanism of Science and Technology Cooperation Committee, act on the consensus of the two heads of state, and further expand the scale and quality of China-Tajikistan STI cooperation; China is willing to work with Tajikistan on science and technology policies, development plans, and key priorities that are of interest to both sides, in order to provide scientific and technological support for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

 

President Farhod Rahimi said that since the first meeting of the Committee, the research institutes of the two sides have actively engaged in research cooperation in agri-tech, biotech, energy and resources, food safety, and other fields. From mutual visits to the launch of joint research projects and to the establishment of joint labs, China-Tajikistan science and technology cooperation has grown deeper and more substantive. Tajikistan looks forward to working with relevant Chinese research institutions to adopt new cooperation models and strive for more practical cooperation results against the impact of the pandemic.

 

The two sides signed the minutes of the meeting.

 

Chen Linhao, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Liu Sheng, Deputy Director-General of the China Science and Technology Exchange Center, Chen Xilin, Director-General of International Cooperation Bureau of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ju Youqian, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology of Gansu Province, Dolikun Awuti, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Sun Yan, Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Tajikistan, attended the meeting.