Chinese leaders call for more international scientific cooperation
- Premier Li Keqiang tells a summit in Shanghai that the country wants to boost exchanges to achieve ‘mutual benefits and win-win results’
- Science minister Wang Zhigang says Beijing wants to develop a global disease prevention network in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic
Chinese leaders have said they want to boost scientific cooperation with other nations.
On Thursday Premier Li Keqiang addressed an innovation forum in Shanghai via video link, saying that China will increase its “engagement in the global innovation network” and promote international exchanges.
He said: “China upholds opening up and is committed to promoting international scientific and technological cooperation to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results.”
Wang Zhigang, the minister of science and technology, told the same event that China wanted to create a global ecosystem which is “open, coordinated and inclusive”.
He said the country’s Belt and Road Initiative, a transcontinental infrastructure project, would be used to push for more scientific cooperation and Beijing will work to develop a global disease prevention network to strengthen the world’s ability to tackle public health crises.
“Facing the tides of a new technological revolution and industrial revolution, facing the challenges of global issues, we urgently need global scientific researchers to strengthen science and research exchanges and cooperation, and governments urgently need to step up joint governance on innovation,” Wang added.
