China and Japan have decided to start 89 new scientific cooperation programs in scientific areas including biology, nuclear energy, agriculture, resources, environmental protection and other fields.

Ma Songde, vice minister of science and technology, said Wednesday that the two sides reached an agreement on jointly starting the programs at the Ninth Session of the Sino-Japanese Joint Committee for Science and Technology Cooperation, which ended Tuesday.

He made the remarks at a symposium marking the 20th anniversary of Sino-Japanese cooperation on science and technology.

He said the new programs include the research and development of a space solar telescope, research on dust storms and ways of preventing them, the exchanging of scientific and technological information, and the building of advanced seismological stations, among others.

The vice minister said after 20 years of effort, the governmental cooperation between the two countries in science and technology has witnessed a remarkable development and the number of joint research programs have increased from less than 10 to more than 100.

Ma said the ongoing programs range from information, biology, new materials, energy, ecology to remote sensing, medical treatment, oceanography and a number of other fields.

Ikeda Kaname, an official with the Science and Technology Agency of Japan, said the two countries should promote their cooperation in science and technology in line with the principle of equality and mutual benefit.

He suggested the two countries strengthen their working relationship in areas like earth science, the environment, life science and other basic research fields.

(Xinhua)