Chongqing - The first Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange will take place in Southwest China's Chongqing from November 6 to 7. More than 300 prominent guests from over 70 countries and international organizations have been invited, including Nobel laureates, foreign academicians, expert scholars, and renowned foreign university presidents, according to the China's State Council Information Office Press Conference on October 30.

Press conference of the first BRI Conference on Science and Technology Exchange on October 30. (Photo/China.com.cn)

The conference includes an apex event, featured events, and three roundtables. The conference hosts will offer field visits to learn about Chongqing’s logistics corridors, hubs, ports, logistics activities, and platforms.

Chongqing established tech exchange with over 80 countries

China aims to make its technological advancements benefit more countries and people globally, as mentioned by Zhang Guangjun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, at the press conference.

Currently, China has established technological cooperation relationships with more than 160 countries and regions across various fields, including climate change, clean energy, and healthcare. Furthermore, China has signed government-level technology cooperation agreements with more than 80 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries, collectively building a comprehensive and multi-tiered technology cooperation network.

Notably, Chongqing has engaged in technology exchange cooperation with innovation entities from over 80 countries and has signed technology innovation strategic memorandums with countries like Hungary, establishing multi-tiered technology innovation cooperation mechanisms involving governments, universities, and businesses, as mentioned by Zhang Anjiang, Vice Mayor of Chongqing.

The China-Hungary Technology Transfer Centers, with offices in Chongqing and Budapest, have constructed a collaborative technology transfer network spanning the entire region. 

This network delves into China's and Hungary's national strategic development needs, providing specialized support for the transfer and transformation of achievements among Chinese and Hungarian businesses and related enterprises.

Chengdu and Chongqing cofounded BRI joint laboratories

Enhancing research capabilities, Zhang Guangjun said that China has implemented numerous joint research projects with its BRI partner countries, collaborating in fields such as agriculture, healthcare, information technology, new energy, and fundamental research. 

This collaboration has resulted in the establishment of more than 50 BRI joint laboratories and the creation of 10 overseas science and education cooperation centers.

The Chengdu-Chongqing region has established three national BRI joint laboratories, 109 international science and technology cooperation bases, and 100 collaborative innovation platforms. 

Specifically, over ten renowned universities, including the National University of Singapore, have established research and development institutions in the Chengdu-Chongqing region. More than 30 enterprises from the Sichuan-Chongqing region, such as Changan Auto and Kelun Pharmaceutical, have established innovative research and development institutions overseas.

Zhang Anjiang stated that Chongqing’s next step involves further integration into the international manufacturing cycle, the establishment of industrial development platforms, and the promotion of open, collaborative innovation. 

He continued this by leveraging the advantages of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and focusing on key areas such as intelligent connected and new energy vehicles, electronic information, intelligent equipment, and new materials to expand international industrial cooperation channels and create a mutually beneficial new pattern of collaboration.

Zheng Bei, Vice Governor of Sichuan Province, emphasized the strengthening of collaborative innovation with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Yangtze River Delta, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as the high-level construction of the BRI Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone and the International Technology Transfer Center. 

She added that Sichuan and Chongqing actively participate in global large-scale scientific programs and projects, contributing to the continuous convergence of global technology innovation resources in the Sichuan-Chongqing region.