On May 15, 2023, Vice Minister Zhang Yudong met in Beijing with a visiting delegation led by Attila Brungs, President of the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on deepening cooperation on the Torch Innovation Precinct at UNSW Sydney (referred to as “the Torch Innovation Precinct”) and other areas of common interest.

　　Zhang Yudong pointed out that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Australian Prime Minister Albanese met in Bali in November 2022, and their meeting has set the direction for the development of bilateral relations. China and Australia have solid foundation for cooperation on scientific and technological innovation, and the Torch Innovation Precinct is a typical example of such cooperation that has yielded significant results. The Ministry of Science and Technology would like to advance the construction and development of the Torch Innovation Precinct, encourage both sides to deepen exchanges and cooperation in areas of mutual interest and make greater contributions to the development of science and technology in China, Australia, and the entire world.

　　President Attila Brungs made a brief account of the latest development at the Torch Innovation Precinct, the UNSW as well as cooperative projects jointly undertaken by the university and its Chinese partners. He spoke highly of Vice Minister Zhang Yudong’s suggestions of cooperation, and introduced the work carried out by UNSW in such areas as green development and environmental research. He stated that collaborative projects have produced outcomes beneficial to both sides, and they will continue to deepen research cooperation with Chinese partners and push for industrialization of their research outcomes.