MINSK, 23 August (BelTA) - A solemn ceremony to launch the events dedicated to the Years of Cooperation between Belarus and the People's Republic of China in Science, Technology and Innovation (2024-2025) was held at the National Library in Minsk on 23 August, BelTA has learned.
“For decades our countries have been strategic partners and ironclad brothers, demonstrating to the world community a model of strong, unbreakable friendship and mutual trust. First of all, this is the merit of the leaders of our countries. The joint statements adopted by the heads of state on the development of all-weather and all-round strategic partnership between the two countries in the new era describe the priorities and areas of cooperation both in bilateral relations and within the framework of regional associations, in the multilateral format. Constant strengthening of political interaction, mutual trust and firm support for each other are the cornerstone of the stable development of the Belarusian-Chinese relations,” Chairman of the State Committee on Science and Technology Sergei Shlychkov said.
Belarus and China have been developing cooperation in science and innovation since the early 1990s. “It is symbolic that diplomatic relations between Belarus and China were established on 20 January 1992, and just a few months later an agreement between the governments of our countries on scientific and technical cooperation was signed. This fact shows that such cooperation was initially assigned one of the key roles in the relationship between Belarus and China. Innovative development is one of the main priorities for both countries. In this regard, the governments of our countries have decided to declare 2024-2025 the Years of Cooperation between Belarus and China in Science, Technology and Innovation. I am confident that this event will give an additional impetus to the development of bilateral scientific and technical cooperation and make a significant contribution to the implementation of joint cooperation projects in various fields,” the chairman of the State Committee on Science and Technology said.
The action plan for the Years of Cooperation between Belarus and the People's Republic of China in Science, Technology and Innovation was approved during the meeting between Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko and Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang on 22 August. “The document covers a wide range of areas of bilateral interaction and provides for joint scientific and technical events, development of Belarusian-Chinese cooperation platforms, implementation of joint scientific and scientific-technical projects. I am convinced that the Years of Cooperation between Belarus and China in Science, Technology and Innovation will bring the relationship between our countries in these areas to a new level,” Sergei Shlychkov said.
According to Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun, the Years of Cooperation hold great importance for the scientific communities of Belarus and China. “I would like to congratulate everyone on this event and express my deep respect to my Belarusian colleagues. The Chinese-Belarusian friendship has always been and will remain strong and long-lasting. Our colleagues in the scientific and technical environment continue to work and implement joint plans. The signing of the agreements promotes the development of contacts between our scientific and technical specialists and enterprises. We should use this chance to continue joint scientific, technical and innovative work, to exploit our potential, to expand cooperation in education and training of talented young people, to develop new platforms,” he said.
The plan for the Years of Cooperation between Belarus and China in Science, Technology, and Innovation contains 89 events. The plan will involve 140 organizations (59 from Belarus and 81 from China), including leading scientific centers of the two countries, industry departments and their subordinate organizations, and major technology corporations.
The plan's activities are aimed primarily at developing scientific, technical, and innovation cooperation between Belarus and China, intensifying mutual technology transfer, and increasing the efficiency of using the results of scientific and technical activities in the main sectors of the economy.
In the ICT sector, for example, the plan envisages the development of cooperation between the Belarusian Communications and Informatization Ministry and the Chinese corporations Huawei Technologies, ZTE and PhotonSpeak on software development, expansion of cooperation in information and communication technologies, including the use of 5G/6G technologies. On Belarus’ behalf, the Hi-Tech Park, the Great Stone Industrial Park, Beltelecom and Promsvyaz will be involved in this work.
The Belarusian Industry Ministry together with the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology envisages the development of a joint platform for the Chinese-Belarusian industrial cooperation. The platform will search for partners, technology transfer, and promote cooperation with Chinese companies on the supply of technological equipment.
The plan also provides for the establishment of a project office of the China-SCO Technology Transfer Center in Minsk. Its activities are supervised by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China.
The office will facilitate both the attraction of advanced foreign technologies to Belarus and the commercialization of the results of Belarusian scientific and innovation organizations' activities abroad.
The Belarusian Healthcare Ministry together with the International Health Exchange and Cooperation Center of the National Health Commission of China will cooperate on the exchange of innovations and technologies in the field of medicine.
The Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim will team up with the Oil and Gas Resources Research Center of the Chinese Geological Survey to exchange technologies for geological research, exploration and development of oil and gas resources.
In order to improve the economic efficiency of joint activities, the State Committee on Science and Technology and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology will hold a competition of flagship scientific and technological projects for 2025-2026 in the areas of information communication technologies, biotechnology and medicine, mechanical engineering, new materials and advanced manufacturing. Plans are in place to select three large-scale joint projects focused on advanced technologies and the organization of joint ventures or industrial technology centers on their basis.
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