FDCT Invited to Participate in the 9th Meeting of China-Portugal Joint Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation
17/07/2019
        Invited by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Ma Chi Ngai Frederico, President of the Administrative Committee of Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT), and Ip Kuai Lam, Senior Manager of S&T Development and Research Department of the FDCT, were present at the 9th Meeting of the China-Portugal Joint Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation held in Lisbon on July 12. Wang Zhigang, Minister of Science and Technology of China, and Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal, attended the meeting and gave speeches. Also present at the meeting were about 40 representatives from 12 institutions of the two countries.
 
        In his speech, Wang Zhigang pointed out that this year marks the 40-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Portugal. The two countries, having established a comprehensive strategic partnership, are making remarkable progress in scientific and technological cooperation. In particular, during President Xi’s visit to Portugal last year, China and Portugal signed cooperative agreements in the field of science and technology, deciding that they would enhance cooperation in areas such as maritime technology, nano-materials, and space technology. He also said that this meeting would further consolidate the results of President Xi’s visit to Portugal, and boost China-Portugal scientific cooperation on a broader, deeper, and more advanced level. He added that this year marks the 20-year anniversary of Macao’s return to China. With the rapid development of Macao’s science and technology, it could play a more significant role in promoting the scientific and technological cooperation between China and Portugal, in which scientific and technological forces in Macao are welcome to participate.
 
        In Manuel Heitor’s speech, he welcomed the Chinese delegation to Portugal. He said that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, visited China this year and participated in the Belt and Road Summit, marking a new stage of China-Portugal relations. During recent years, the two countries have made spectacular progress in cooperation in areas such as environment, energy, space, and the development of seas and oceans. He pointed out that China and Portugal greatly complement each other in scientific research, technological development, and innovation and entrepreneurship, and that there is ample space for further cooperation. Portugal is willing to further deepen its cooperation with China in science and technology. In addition, he welcomed the scientific and technological sector in Macao to participate in China-Portugal cooperation.
 
        Ma Chi Ngai Frederico in his speech first thanked the Ministry of Science and Technology of China for inviting Macao to participate in China-Portugal cooperation in science and technology. Then he briefly introduced the current status of the development of Macao’s scientific and technological innovation and its external cooperation efforts in science and technology. He also offered some thoughts about Macao’s role in China-Portugal scientific and technological cooperation in the future. He said that one of the roles played by Macao is a “Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”. The FDCT, Macao’s main scientific and technological department, is actively exploring how to promote Macao’s functions in China-Portugal co-operation. In the fields where China and Portugal are planning to collaborate, such as space technology, nanotechnology, marine technology, and machine translation between Chinese and Portuguese, Macao has laid firm foundations, and it has worked with research institutions in both mainland China and Portugal in the past. As a consequence, Macao has suitable qualifications to join in China-Portugal scientific cooperation, and it is willing to serve as an exchange platform for scientific research and technological transfers for China, Portugal, and other Portuguese-speaking countries.
 
        Apart from participating in the meeting, Ma Chi Ngai Frederico was also invited to give a keynote speech at the “2030 Forum for China-Portugal Scientific and Technological Cooperation”. During the speech, which was on the theme of Macao’s function as a platform enhancing the cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in science and technology, he reviewed the proposal and development of the notion of the “Commercial and Trade Cooperation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, and introduced the progress the Forum has achieved as well as the efforts it has made in facilitating scientific and technological cooperation. He said that the FDCT would actively promote personnel exchange and scientific research cooperation by providing funding opportunities, and encourage scientific researchers in Macao to participate in China-Portugal cooperation, which will enable Macao to play a more important role in China-Portugal cooperation in scientific and technological innovation.
 
        During their transfer between flights in the UK, the delegation led by Ma Chi Ngai Frederico visited Cambridge University and Imperial College. They discussed with members of the two universities regarding arranging for Macao high school and college students to take summer courses on science as well as innovation and entrepreneurship organized by the two universities.

 
Minister Wang Zhigang giving his speech

President Ma Chi Ngai Frederico giving his speech at the “2030 Forum for China-Portugal Scientific and Technological Cooperation”
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