On December 7, 2021, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang held a video conference with Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education Manuel Heitor. Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Zhao Bentang, Director Tai Kin Ip of Economic and Technological Development Bureau of Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Portuguese Ambassador to China Jose Augusto Duarte attended the video conference.

 

Minister Wang Zhigang noted that both President Xi Jinping and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa acknowledged the sound growth momentum of bilateral relations during their phone call this year. The meeting between the science and technology ministers is acting on the consensus and outcomes of important mutual visits and phone calls between the two presidents in recent years, facilitating implementation of agreements in the field of science and technology, and planning for the next step of cooperation.

 

Minister Wang Zhigang said that we both firmly believe that it is important to harness the power of scientific and technological innovation to support the overall China-Portugal relations and strengthen its foundation. In the past two years, the two sides have actively implemented the Memorandum of Understanding on Advancing Cooperation under the China-Portugal Science and Technology Partnership 2030 and made substantial progress in areas such as climate change, sustainable development and cultural heritage protection. The Chinese side applauds the progress made, and hopes the two sides will continue to promote sustainable development of the cooperation platform, encourage innovation in cooperation models, and bring into better play the role of Macao. In the meantime, the two sides are encouraged to strengthen science and technology cooperation in such areas as carbon neutrality, green development and public health, create more cooperation highlights, and usher in a better future for China-Portugal cooperation on science and technology.

 

Minister Manuel Heitor pointed out that science and technology cooperation has always been an important part of the friendly relations between the two countries. It is encouraging to note that cooperation has achieved results in a number of priority areas. The joint research platforms built by both sides are playing an important role in promoting joint research, personnel exchange, and industry-academia-research integration. It is hoped that the two sides will send more students and researchers to each other’s country, further expand areas of cooperation, increase Macao‘s participation, and jointly promote China-Portugal and China-EU scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation.

 

Before the meeting, the two science ministers also attended the online kick-off workshop for the China-Portugal Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Space & Sea Advanced Research and delivered speeches. Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Zhao Bentang, Director Tai Kin Ip of Economic and Technological Development Bureau of Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Portuguese Ambassador to China Jose Augusto Duarte attended the workshop and briefed the participants. Nearly 40 representatives of Chinese and Portuguese researchers from the lab’s partner institutions attended the event.

 

Director-General Dai Gang and Deputy Director-General Zhao Jing of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Director-General of the Department of High and New Technology Chen Jiachang, Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology for Social Development Wu Yuanbin, Director of the China Science and Technology Exchange Center Gao Xiang, Vice President of the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation José Paulo Esperança and President of the Macao Scientific and Cultural Centre Carmen Amado Mendes participated in the above activities.