Belarus, China to implement 35 sci-tech projects by 2024

MINSK, 29 November (BelTA) – Belarus and China plan to implement 35 science and technology projects by 2024, Chairman of the State Committee for Science and Technology Sergei Shlychkov told journalists at the fourth meeting of the commission on sci-tech cooperation of the Belarus-China intergovernmental committee on cooperation, BelTA learned from the press service of the State Committee for Science and Technology.

Sergei Shlychkov noted that the two countries should approved these projects and be genuinely interested in them. “Following the two-stage competition held in Shanghai, 35 projects were selected to be implemented in 2022-2024. The necessary regulatory framework has been developed and funding has been allocated to make these projects mutually beneficial and interesting. The projects approved during the competition have to do with priority areas of bilateral cooperation listed in Belarus' President Decree No. 156 as of 7 May 2020 “On priority areas of science, technology and innovation activities for 2021 -2025”. China has similar documents and agencies that determine the priority areas of scientific and technological development,” he said.

The priority areas of scientific and technological development of Belarus are digital information and communication and interdisciplinary technologies and industries based on them, biological, medical, pharmaceutical and chemical technologies and industries, energy, construction, environmental conservation, mechanical engineering, engineering technologies, instrumentation and innovative materials. "We carried out the necessary procedures for the selection of joint projects. We compared the priorities of the two countries and selected 35 projects. Our cooperation has gained momentum. Our partners from China approved of the projects that will be launched шт 2024. At least 20 are in the pipeline but, as practice shows, there will be more of them," the head of the committee said.

Sergei Shlychkov noted that the strategic priority areas in science and technology for the medium term largely coincide in Belarus and the People's Republic of China. "We can say with confidence that Belarus and China have a huge potential in terms of joint projects in a number of areas of mutual interest," he added.

At the meeting, the Belarusian side informed the Chinese partners about the scientific, technological and innovative development of the country, the development of innovative infrastructure, and also briefed on the latest achievements in science and technology. Representatives of the PRC, in turn, spoke about the results of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party, in particular on science and technology, education and human development, and also reported on the national plan of the 14th five-year plan in terms of international scientific, technical and innovative cooperation. The Chinese side expressed confidence in the development of cooperation in science and innovation.

Belarus and China noted the importance of using online technologies to organize events in science and technology amid the current restrictions related to COVID-19. The meeting participants expressed the hope that in-person events would resume soon, which would make them more effective.

Following the event, the parties agreed to hold the fifth meeting of the commission in 2024 in Belarus.