For the purpose of continuously propelling the engineering technology cooperation between China and the UK and facilitating long-term communication between the two engineering technology circles, with the active promotion and organization of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the “Inauguration Ceremony of China-UK Engineering Technology Cooperation Steering Committee” was successfully held in the afternoon of April 27, Beijing time (London time: morning of April 27).

The ceremony was jointly presided over by Li Xiaohong, President of the CAE, and Sir Jim McDonald, President of the RAE by means of video conference, during which relevant documents of the Steering Committee were reviewed and approved with one accord, and committee members proposed their suggestions and advices about future cooperation and activities under the guidance of the Committee. Then, President Li Xiaohong and President Jim McDonald together announced the establishment of the China-UK Engineering Technology Cooperation Steering Committee.

Mr. Li Xiaohong put forward three suggestions for the future work of the Committee in his speech. First, the Committee should uphold the good tradition of cooperation between the engineering technology communities of China and the UK, further pool government, scientific, technological and industrial resources of the two countries, and jointly carry out activities such as strategic consulting studies, academic exchanges and seminars, and cooperation in technological innovation. Second, the Committee should focus on major challenges in engineering technology and seek innovative solutions for sustainable development. On the one hand, the Committee should focus on the current theme of decarbonisation, and provide engineering technology support for the realization of the carbon reduction goals of the Chinese and UK governments. On the other hand, the Committee could deploy thematic studies on other hot topics such as human health and artificial intelligence in a timely manner, and provide innovative engineering technology solutions for the sustainable development of human society. Third, the Committee, as an innovative endeavor of deepening scientific and technological cooperation between China and the UK, should actively explore innovative mechanisms in the selection of research topics, project research and management, and application of achievements, so as to help foster innovative scientific and technological achievements and promote the economic and social development of the two countries.

Sir Jim McDonald noted in his remarks that achieving climate goals was a daunting task that involved profound change in the entire society. The engineering community would continue to lead the technological research and innovation and apply systems thinking to solve complex problems, being an influential change agent. RAE could leverage its strengths in these areas, bringing together experts and providing a platform for sincere, open and high-level discussions. Based on the cooperation between the CAE and the RAE, China and the UK could have a better understanding of the decarbonisation strategies of each other, learn from the successful experience of each other, identify opportunities and coordinate the efforts on decarbonisation of the two countries.

The Committee was a cooperative intention that gradually took shape on the basis of the long-term cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the CAE, and the RAE. It is aimed to establish a long-term and steady exchange mechanism for the engineering communities of China and the UK and to encourage the communities to carry out policy and technology exchanges in various engineering fields, explore into the priority fields, look for opportunities of innovative cooperation, and promote personnel exchange and joint research. The Committee is composed of representatives from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the UK, UK Research and Innovation, the RAE, NEPC of the UK, the CAE, the Department of Science and Technology for Social Development, Department of Foreign Expert Services, and Department of International Cooperation of Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the Administrative Center for China’s Agenda 21, and China Association for International Exchange of Personnel. China Association for International Exchange of Personnel, as the office of the Committee’s Chinese secretariat, will properly perform its duties together with relevant departments of the CAE and organize relevant exchanges of China-UK engineering technology cooperation.

The first focus field of China-UK engineering technology cooperation is the realization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and net zero targets. Under the guidance of the Committee, the focus will be next led to various green and low-carbon technology cooperation topics such as CCUS, low-carbon building, offshore wind energy, hydrogen energy, zero carbon transportation, power system transformation, and resilient power grid, which will lead to the beginning of activities like series seminars.