Think tanks call for closer Belt and Road cooperation in tech sector

Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang delivers a speech at a thematic on innovation cooperation during the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on April 26. [Photo:China Plus]

Senior officials and a think tank called for closer cooperation in the tech sector as the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation kicked off in Beijing.

Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang calls for more cooperation in scientific innovation among participating countries of the Belt and Road Initiative, while stressing the importance of intellectual property protection in the process.

"China's national plans and projects in scientific research will be more open to the world, which will help enhance cooperation in the field and facilitate personal and academic exchanges with participating countries. Intellectual Property protection will be the priority task of the country. China will also launch innovation cooperation initiative with BRI countries to deepen cooperation in scientific innovation under the Belt and Road Initiative."

He says China has been dedicated to encouraging and training more talents from Belt and Road countries in scientific innovation.

The minister says over the last two years the Chinese government has organized nearly 150 training programs and trained over 2000 participants.

President Bai Chunli of the Chinese Academy of Science says they have established the Alliance of International Science Organizations or ANSO with more than 40 Belt and Road Counties.

"The Alliance is the first comprehensive international scientific organization under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative. The establishment of the organization will serve the Belt and Road countries by launching a set of substantial projects on scientific innovation and create a "scientific technical community" with participating countries."

He adds the alliance will set up a scholarship to encourage more talents from the Belt and Road countries to devote efforts to scientific research.

Director General Francis Gurry of the World Intellectual Property Organization says the initiative offers unique opportunities to boost innovation.

"The Belt and Road initiative, I believe, offers extraordinary opportunities to operationalize innovation, and this in particular through the many connections that are enabled by the the belt and road initiative. The many human connections, and the many institutional connections, which are, after all, the basis of advancement in connections and advancements in science, technology and, innovation."

Together with participating countries, China has set up a dozen overseas education centers for scientific research in various fields including green development, food safety and disaster alleviation.

It has established centers with multiple countries including South Africa, Indonesia and Croatia for cutting-edge technology research.