South Africa hopes to enhance ties with China at the upcoming second Ministerial Belt and Road Science and Technology Conference.
It is set to take place in Chengdu, China, from June 11 to 12.
Prof. Blade Nzimande, minister of science, technology, and innovation, will head a South African team to attend the event titled "Together for Innovation, Development for All - Jointly Building a Scientific and Technological Innovation Community for the Belt and Road."
"The Belt and Road Science and Technology Conference presents South Africa with a unique opportunity to enhance cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in key technology areas such as artificial intelligence, future energy, transport systems and traditional medicines," said Nzimande.
A high-level meeting with his counterpart, Yin Hejun, China's minister of science and technology, will be an important aspect of the minister's visit to China.
The meeting will assess existing scientific, technology, and innovation collaboration between China and South Africa, as well as identify new areas of potential cooperation.
The minister's itinerary will include strategic meetings with key Chinese institutions and businesses, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Association for Science and Technology, the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, the National Institute of Clean and Low-Carbon Energy, and Huawei.
Senior executives from the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation, the National Research Foundation, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the Technology Innovation Agency, the Human Sciences Research Council, and the South African National Space Agency make up the minister's delegation.
According to Nzimande, South Africa's Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation wants to stress the importance of South Africa and China's strategic relationship in science, technology, and innovation.
He stated that the ministry's goal is to showcase ongoing cooperation in areas that correspond with mutual development goals, as well as to inspire young South African scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs to participate in global innovation networks
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