The Chinese Academy of Sciences will enhance science cooperation and services to support countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative on common global issues, officials said on Nov 5.
Measures will include expanding joint research and consultation services related to major scientific challenges, such as tackling climate change, natural disasters, health and other issues, Bai Chunli, the academy’s president, said at a news conference on the sidelines of the First General Assembly of the Alliance of International Science Organizations, which concluded on Nov 5.
Other measures include new projects that use science and technology to solve key social issues, such as food and water security, Bai said. He added that tech companies in places involved in the BRI will also see greater collaboration with China. New scholarships and rewards programs will also be established to nurture talent.
The alliance, officially launched on Nov 4, was initiated by the CAS, Bai said. It is the first comprehensive science initiative launched by scientific institutions from countries involved in the BRI with cooperation from other international organizations.
In all, 37 research institutes and international organizations are part of the alliance. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and The World Academy of Sciences are also part of it.
“Science cooperation is a key component of the BRI, and the academy has played a vital role in deepening such cooperation with countries involved in the initiative,” Bai said.
Since 2013, the science academy has built nine overseas research and education centers in Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America, Bai said. It is involved in more than 100 research projects and has trained more than 5,000 high-quality scientists for BRI countries, he added.
Some examples of fruitful science cooperation include Chinese scientists partnering with peers from Pakistan and Sri Lanka to improve their natural disaster response and mitigation capabilities.
“It is a win-win situation,” he said.
The new alliance will amplify cooperation efforts and focus on tackling common issues faced by member countries while enhancing coordination in scientific and innovation-related policies and development strategies, Bai said.
Jointly conducting major scientific projects, facilitating the sharing of resources, data and innovation capabilities, and nurturing new talent are also goals of the alliance, he added.
Alexander Sergeev, president of the Russian Academy of Sciences, says the CAS has become one of the strongest research institutions in the world, noting that the two academies have a long history of fruitful science cooperation.
“We appreciate the leadership shown by the CAS in building the alliance, and we hope our governments will continue their support,” he says.
Muhammad Qasim Jan, president of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, says his country has been a major beneficiary of the BRI and hopes to continue science cooperation with China in the geosciences, satellite imaging, marine studies and other scientific fields.
Robert Wahiti Gituru, professor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya, says the alliance will enhance scientific cooperation in his country. He adds that Chinese scientists are already helping Kenya protect and conserve its biodiversity, including cataloging the country’s plants.
“China is supporting us where it matters most, because Kenya’s economy is dependent on ecotourism and we need to protect our biodiversity to draw tourists in,” he says.
(China Daily European Weekly 11/09/2018 page13)