The Perspective on the Collaboration of Science and Technology between China and the UK Wang Baoqing Minister-Counsellor for Science and Technology Embassy of the People s s Republic of China 17th January, 2007
Highlights 1 China s science and technology capacity and development trends 2 The collaborations of science and technology between China and UK 3 We will do better in the future
Part one China s science and technology capacity and development trends
The figures tell story In China, the total R&D expenditure reached 245 billion yuan accounting for 1.34% of GDP in 2005 and 54% of total R&D investment from governments In 2004, 130,000 invention patents filed with 64,000 from foreigners; 49,000 granted with 31,000 from foreign applications 2,273 colleges and universities in China; 15 million on-campus undergraduate students
SCI papers from 1991 to 2001.
National Medium and Long Term S&T Development Plan Outline (2006-2020) By 2020, the general principle of S&T development is to strengthen innovation capacity R&D expenditure is aimed to reach 2.5% of GDP by 2020 Breakthroughs in key strategic areas including mineral resources, environment, agriculture, manufacturing, communications, transport, etc S&T Section, Chinese Embassy
A long way to go According to the latest statistics released by the World Bank and Chinese Government, China s aggregate economic volume in 2004 accounts for only 16.6% of that of the United States while its per-capita GDP 3.6% of the United States, ranked 129 th among 208 countries
An important part in the world In recent years, it has been proved that China s economic and technological development is becoming an important impetus for economic growth in the Asia- Pacific region and even in the world China will continue to make great efforts for a peaceful, open, cooperative and harmonious development
Part two The collaborations of science and technology between China and UK
The policy of opening up to the outside world Guided by the basic state policy of opening up to the outside world, China has been actively engaged in economic and technological exchanges and cooperation with other countries China enjoys sharing the fruits of human civilization through international exchanges
China s s EU Policy White Paper on Science and Technology (October 2003) Participation in EU FP6, Galileo Programme and other big science projects Policy Forum on China-EU S&T and Innovation; Support to S&T cooperation involved enterprises Collaborate with intermediary agencies to accelerate the interflow of technology and talents
International priorities of the UK UK has built on strategic relationships with EU, USA, China, Japan and India S&T Section, Chinese Embassy
4 th Sino-UK Joint Commission Meeting 28 April 2006, Beijing Priority areas for collaboration: Energy (Clean Coal and Renewable Energy) Climate Change, Environment Protection and Sustainable Development Infectious Diseases Biomedicine and Traditional Medicine Nano-technology and Material Science Space Technology A number of MoUs were signed including: E-Science, Oceanograghic technology, Sino-UK Science Parks (Cambridge and Manchester)
China s high technology firms in the UK In 2004/05, China has launched 37 investment projects in the UK, ranked 7 th place among all foreign investments, increased by 61% than last year, with 347 local employments created --Data source:uk inward investment 2004/05 A number of Chinese firms including Huawei and ZTE have moved in and set up in the UK
Part three We will do better in the future
From strength to strength collaborations Although there is still a gap between China s overall science and technology capacity and that of developed countries, China does have strength in some areas such as biomedicine, ICT, space technology, etc, in which fields considerable international collaborations could be conducted horizontally for mutual benefits S&T Section, Chinese Embassy
The levels and sizes of collaborations In terms of project collaborations, there are quite a lot of room for an improvement in levels and sizes Exporing collaboration models: Integrating the bases, talents and projects as a whole to facilitate the collaborations, such as the programme supported by HEIF and the Chinese side, dealing with Queen Mary College, University of Nottingham, University of Southampton, King s College and Royal Vetnetary College and some Chinese universities
Enlightening each other We are able to enhance the collaborations not only on projects but also on idea exchanges We highly value the UK s historic experience and good practice, for instance, which is capsulated into a China s twelve part TV serial named The rise of the great powers It is a valuable platform for us to attend the Conference and learn a lot from Demos thinktank exclusive reports and from other speakers
Common concerns and actions Issues regarding climate change, sustainable energy supply, infectious diseases, flood and coast defense and some big science projects are now seriously concerned and shall be our common responsibility for both EU and Asian countries
Strategic partnership means The cooperation on the levels of projects, ideas and common actions will be considered in an overall, stable and sustainable ways for bilateral and multilateral benefits It needs to jointly nurse and cultivate with necessary time and patience As the Chinese philosopher Laozi said, a long journey of one thousand miles begins with a single step S&T Section, Chinese Embassy
Thank you S&T Section, Chinese Embassy