On the afternoon of September 7 Beijing time, the 18th Conference on International Exchange of Professionals (hereinafter referred as “CIEP”) kicked off in Beijing, Shenzhen and Russia, and the Shenzhen forum plenary session under the theme “China-Russia Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation” was held by video.

Guests invited to attend the forum include the Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of Ministry of Science and Technology Chen Linhao, the Director of Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee Liang Yongsheng, the Vice-president of Peking University Zhang Pingwen, the Chief Accountant of State Power Investment Corporation Limited Chen Xi, the Acting Director of the Department of State Scientific and Technical Policy of Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Semin Alexey Alekseevich, the Vice-president of Lomonosov Moscow State University Shakhray Sergey Mikhailovich, the Director of the Institute of Far East Studies of Russian Academy of Sciences Maslov Alexei Alexandrovich etc. They shared policies and cooperation experience, exhibit cooperation results, and offer advice regarding how to accelerate the construction of China-Russia innovative cooperation policies, mechanisms and environment, to establish a platform for joint scientific research and talent cultivation between colleges and universities in China and Russia, and to push forward the practical cooperation between Chinese and Russian enterprises in major fields under regular pandemic control in the post-pandemic era, providing new thought and exchanging ideas for breaking new ground in China-Russia scientific and technological innovation cooperation and opening up as well as mutual benefits.

Last June 5, presidents Xi Jinping and Putin signed the Joint Statement on China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for a New Era, and decided to organize “China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation” event in 2020 and 2021 for the purpose of expanding and deepening China-Russia scientific and technological innovation cooperation. On August 26 this year, “China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation” kicked off in Beijing and Moscow by video. Presidents Xi Jinping and Putin sent their congratulations. In the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, holding the “China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation” and the Shenzhen forum plenary session under the theme “China-Russia Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation” as scheduled fully embodies the importance and the peculiarity of scientific and technological innovation in bilateral relations.

China-Russia scientific and technological innovation cooperation is highly potential to give play to complementary advantages. In the post-pandemic era, by upholding the “mutual benefit” principle and keeping in mind each other’s needs and interests, the two countries should be fully motivated to explore a new cooperative mechanism that integrates Russia’s basic sciences and technological advantages with Chinese applied sciences and industrial strength, further enhance the scientific research, technical, cultural and educational exchanges, and continuously promote pragmatic cooperation between Chinese and Russian enterprises, making the China-Russia scientific and technological innovation cooperation and exchange of professionals generate more than simple pooling efforts together. In addition to bringing benefit to the people of the two countries and contributing more “China-Russia approaches” to global scientific and technological governance, it aims to build a community with a shared future for mankind and make contribution to world peace, mutual development and cultural exchange.