During September 3rd and 6th, 2013, the 1st Forum on China-ASEAN Technology Transfer and Collaborative Innovation, co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is held in Nanning, Guangxi. Mr. Peng Qinghua, Party Secretary of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, was present at the Forum and delivered a speech. Mr. Wan Gang, Minister of Science and Technology of China, and the Science & Technology Ministers of Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, etc., attended the Forum, and made keynote speeches. Mr. Chen Jiwa, Chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region’s Political Consultative Conference was also present. More than 1000 representatives from enterprises, universities, research institutes, and technology transfer facilitating agencies of China and ASEAN countries participated in the Forum, of which those from ASEAN countries totaled over 300. The Forum was hosted by Mr. Cao Jianlin, Vice Minister of Science and Technology of China.

Theme of this Forum is “Joint Innovation, Common Development”. During the Forum, a series of activities are organized, including high-level dialogue, matchmaking activities, demonstration of advanced technologies, and field visits to S&T parks, etc., with the goal of gathering China and ASEAN countries’ innovation achievements for demonstration, facilitating the establishment of China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Network, and promoting technology matchmaking and innovation cooperation between China and ASEAN countries. The Forum builds an important platform for China-ASEAN technology transfer cooperation. It is of great practical significance and profound historical significance for China and ASEAN countries to deeply exploring their vitality of technological innovation, expanding channels of cooperation for enterprises, improving levels of S&T cooperation, and realizing the common development of science, technology and economy.

The Forum was preceded by the Signing Ceremony of China-ASEAN Cooperation Projects. Through previous efforts, 20 cooperation projects, including China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Network, China-ASEAN Remote Sensing Satellite Data Sharing and Service Platform, Lao-China Renewable Energy Joint Laboratory, and Beidou-Based Location Service Demonstration and Application, etc., were signed during the Ceremony.

During the High-level Dialogue, Minister Wan Gang and the Science & Technology Ministers of Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam, etc., delivered keynote speeches respectively. Concentrating on 3 major subjects, namely, the political environment and measures, opportunities and demands, mechanisms and modes of China-ASEAN technology transfer and collaborative innovation, they further expounded on the history, status-quo, as well as future development of China-ASEAN technology transfer and collaborative innovation from the national level. Minister Wan Gang made an introduction of the latest development of China’s S&T innovation, and summarized the progress of major projects under China-ASEAN Science and Technology Partnership Program. He concluded his speech by making 3 proposals to further deepening S&T cooperation between China and ASEAN countries. First, vigorously promoting exchanges and cooperation on science, technology and innovation policies, enhancing mutual understandings in this respect, and sharing successful experiences; second, actively exploring the practice of co-building science parks. China is willing to cooperate with ASEAN countries in terms of the planning, construction, operation, and management of science parks; third, co-building China-ASEAN Agricultural Science and Technology Network, so as to establish long-term mechanism for China-ASEAN agricultural science and technology cooperation, facilitating human resources development and technology transfer in the field of agricultural science and technology, upgrading China and ASEAN countries’ agricultural industry, and improving the added value of agricultural products.

Representatives from noted enterprises and institutes of both China and abroad, including Dato’ Norhalim Yunus, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Technology Development Corporation, Mr. Supant Mongkolsuthree, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Chapters Committee of the Federation of Thai Industries, Mr. Feng Jun, Chairman of aigo Digital Technology Co. Ltd, and Mr. Li Chuyuan, Chairman of Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd. etc., also made excellent speeches by concentrating on their thinkings, experiences, and successful cases on technology transfer and collaborative innovation.

Over 400 enterprises and institutes with as much as 572 projects participated in the matchmaking activities organized during the Forum, including those well-known both in China and abroad, such as Huawei, Longping High-tech, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical, BGI, Sohu, Reignwood Group of Thailand, as well as Transpacific IP of Singapore, etc. Among them, over 150 enterprises and institutes, bringing more than 200 projects for matchmaking and exhibition, are from ASEAN countries.

The Forum also exhibits 186 cooperation projects.