The 30th Anniversary of the UK Office of China Association For International Exchange of Personnel & the Guest-of-honor (UK) Launch Ceremony of the 17th Conference on International Exchange of Professionals were launched in London on the 29th.

Zhang Jianguo, Deputy Director-General of Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Director of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel, Zhu Qin, Minister at the Chinese Embassy in the UK, Lord David Willetts, Member of the British House of Lords and former Minister of State for Universities and Science, Lord Bhattacharyya, Member of the British House of Lords, Chairman of Warwick Manufacturing Group and winner of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, and Dr. Peter Bonfield, Chancellor of the University of Westminster and Vice Chairman of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, attended and made a speech.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up and the 40th anniversary of the Intergovernmental Agreement on China-UK Science and Technology Cooperation, the activity attracted about 120 people including 6 UK expert representatives winning the Chinese Government Friendship Award, dozens of distinguished UK expert representatives working with China in various fields, and representatives of UK institutions and organizations establishing cooperative relations with the Ministry of Science and Technology (the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs).

Zhang Jianguo said in his speech that the technology and talent exchange and cooperation between China and the UK have entered a golden era, and win-win cooperation has become the main theme of the innovative development of technology and talent of both countries. Now, more than 40,000 British experts work in China annually. After years of accumulation, they have become the important talent base and driving force for Sino-British innovation and cooperation.

Zhang Jianguo pointed out further that the Chinese Government attaches great importance to international exchanges and cooperation in talents and scientific and technological development, and will implement a more active, open and effective talent policy, so as to provide high-quality services for foreign experts working in China, grant them easy access, and offer good conditions for them to stay, get good development and achieve high mobility. Moreover, the Chinese Government also hopes that experts, scholars and institutions from all fields in the UK actively participate in those exchanges and communication, thus injecting new impetus into the Sino-British cooperation in talents and scientific and technological development.

In his speech, Zhu Qin said that Sino-British cooperation in scientific and technological development is a "golden achievement" produced by the "golden age" of bilateral relations. Today, the world is undergoing great changes unseen in a century, and the Sino-British innovation and cooperation is also facing unprecedented opportunities. China is one of the most populous countries in the world, and it is becoming a country with numerous talents from the one with large human resources . Britain is a long-time powerful country in scientific research, with a sound education system and outstanding research institutions. Therefore, the Sino-British talent exchanges enjoy bright prospects. The Chinese Government hopes that the British Office of China Association for International Exchange of Personnel can firmly seize the current great opportunity, constantly make explorations and innovations, and strive to make Sino-British talent, innovation and scientific and technological cooperation the first productive force, the first driving force and the first resource in Sino-British relations, thus making greater contributions to the "Golden Age" of the Sino-British relations.

Initiated in 2001, the Conference on International Exchange of Professionals is the largest, most-influential and highest-level international and comprehensive talent exchange event in China, and is also a platform for exchanges and cooperation of talents, technology, projects and management. The 17th Conference on International Exchange of Professionals was held in Shenzhen from April 14 to 15, 2019, and Britain was the only guest country of the conference, which planned to build a docking platform for all walks of life in Britain to have in-depth exchanges and seek various cooperation opportunities with China.