China and Canada signed a Science and Technology Cooperation
Agreement in Beijing on Tuesday boosting research and development
collaboration between the two countries.
Xu Guanhua, China's Minister of Science and Technology, said at
the signing ceremony that China would increase input on
international scientific and technological cooperation during the
11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010) and
encourage its scientists to actively participate in equal and
mutually beneficial global cooperation programs.
It was announced at the signing ceremony that China's Ministry
of Science and Technology and Canada's Ministry of International
Trade would create a joint fund to support scientific and
technological innovation and industrial cooperation conducted under
the agreement.
Canada's Minister of International Trade David Emerson said
Canada would invest 5.25 million Canadian dollars towards
implementing the cooperation agreement.
"Now, more than ever before, the world economy is driven by
innovation," said Emerson, adding the agreement will encourage
researchers and businesses from our two countries to work together,
share expertise and forge new partnerships.
The agreement should foster greater cooperation between Chinese
and Canadian academics and be felt across the private and public
sectors. The work conducted under this aegis will initially focus
on four main areas: energy, the environment, health and life
sciences and agricultural foods and bio-products.
One of the key aims of the agreement is to help Canadian
innovators and entrepreneurs bring their work to the market faster.
The agreement will also provide better intellectual property
protection.
(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2007)