The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) celebrates its 10th anniversary by shifting its focus towards enhancing scientific and technological innovation. At the recent Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, President Xi Jinping emphasized \"high-quality development\" and unveiled \"eight major steps\" to guide the initiative into a new era.
The fifth step highlights the advancement of scientific and technological innovation, marking a significant upgrade from addressing previous challenges like excessive debt and corruption. Under this new direction, BRI aims to become \"a road of innovation\" by prioritizing innovation-driven development, strengthening scientific and technological cooperation, optimizing the innovation environment, and establishing technology trading and transfer markets.
To support BRI partner countries, China plans to establish 100 joint laboratories over the next five years and provide opportunities for young scientists to engage in short-term programs in China. These initiatives are designed to cultivate innovative talent and bridge the digital divide through the development of smart cities, mobile payments, and cross-border e-commerce.
As of the end of 2021, China had established scientific and technological cooperation relationships with over 160 countries and regions, covering diverse fields such as medicine, agriculture, energy resources, public health, advanced manufacturing, and information technology. By June 2023, more than 80 BRI partner countries had signed the \"Intergovernmental Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation.\"
Notable collaborations include the China-Kenya Joint Laboratory of Crop Molecular Biology, the China-Austria Joint Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Manufacturing, and the China-Egypt Joint Renewable Energy Laboratory. These partnerships focus on food security, AI and manufacturing integration, and renewable energy solutions, respectively.
Looking ahead, China is establishing a targeted BRI basic research fund to further enhance the scientific and technological capabilities of partner countries. Key research areas include information technology and biological sciences in Singapore, physics and aerospace in Russia, and oil and gas exploration in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, space agencies from Pakistan and Azerbaijan will join international partners in China’s lunar research-station project, aiming to build a permanent base on the Moon in the 2030s.
This comprehensive approach to nurturing both basic and applied research signifies a major evolution for the BRI, positioning it as a catalyst for global innovation and sustainable development.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
