In 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of China continues to advance its science and technology training initiatives for developing countries. In September, a new batch of 93 International Training Programs was approved, covering five major areas: artificial intelligence capacity building, sustainable development technologies, life and health technologies, science-based poverty alleviation, and science and technology innovation policy. The program aims to strengthen practical cooperation with developing countries in science and technology and deepen people-to-people exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative. Newly approved programs have now commenced successively.

As one of the first programs launched and implemented overseas, the International Training Program on Waste-to-Energy Technology started successfully in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 10, 2025. Twenty-four trainees from nine countries—including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, India, and Colombia—joined over 100 local industry representatives in attending the opening ceremony.

In her video remarks at the opening ceremony, Ms. Yang Xuemei, Deputy Director of the China Science and Technology Exchange Center, emphasized that China is ready to share its waste-to-energy technologies, equipment, and management experience with all countries to help them address the dual challenges of “waste siege” and energy shortages. She noted that the training program will deepen cooperation with developing countries in green energy and environmental governance, support the global application of China’s waste-to-energy technologies, and contribute to building an open, cooperative, and mutually beneficial platform for science and technology exchange.

With global annual municipal solid waste generation exceeding 2.1 billion tons, waste management has become a pressing challenge worldwide. China has actively explored waste treatment approaches suited to its national conditions and developed a system characterized by “classification and resource recovery first, complemented by waste-to-energy utilization.” The 15-day training program will include lectures, virtual study tours, and hands-on practice on topics such as municipal solid waste management policies in China and Saudi Arabia, waste characteristics and treatment technologies, pollution control, waste-to-energy engineering design and operational management, and business models. Participants will also visit local waste-to-energy project sites in Saudi Arabia.

Figure 1. Video remarks by Deputy Director Yang Xuemei.

Figure 2. Group photo of the training program participants.

Each year, MOST supports Chinese universities, research institutes, and enterprises in hosting international training programs for developing countries. To date, more than 18,000 professionals and managers have been trained. These programs have significantly contributed to enhancing scientific and technological capacity, strengthening research capabilities, and advancing industrial technologies in developing countries. They have also deepened China’s science and technology cooperation with partner countries, shared China’s innovation experience, and helped ensure that scientific and technological achievements benefit more countries.