The 9th International and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Working Committee of BAST holds its 4th work conference

On April 14, 2021, the 9th International and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Working Committee of Beijing Association for Science and Technology held its 4th work conference. Nearly 12 members or their delegates attended the meeting, including academician Xue Qikun, Vice President of BAST, director of the working committee and President of Southern University of Science and Technology, Tian Wen, member of Leading Party Members’ Group and Vice President of BAST and deputy director of the working committee, and academician Wang Chunjiang, standing committee member of BAST, deputy director of the working committee and chief scientist of Beijing Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture. Prof. Wang Yongtian, standing committee member of BAST, deputy director of the working committee and President of Beijing Society of Image and Graphics, presided over the meeting.

Participating members deliberated and discussed the “2020 Work Summary and 2021 Priorities of the International and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Working Committee (draft for comment)”, and raised opinions and suggestions.

　　 In 2020, the 9th International and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Working Committee of BASt, under the leadership of the 9th standing committee of BAST, conducted researches into BAST’s efforts of communication with foreign countries and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as well related major issues, and conducted several fruitful works with respect to strengthening the political guidance of foreign affairs work, strengthening communication with foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, improving the academic international intercourse capabilities of learned societies, promoting exchanges with international sci-tech organizations, conducting international cooperation against the pandemic and bringing talented people from abroad.

For the 2021 priorities, participating members and delegates said that the working committee will continue strengthening the political guidance of BAST for communications with foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan encompassing the working committee’s duties; guide the efforts to create an international “academic community” and a comprehensive international science popularization communication platform in Beijing; conduct systematic communications with Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan in science and technology;  implement the open-end “overseas brainpower serving construction of Beijing program”; further leverage the unique strengths of BAST organization to drive the non-governmental sci-tech intercourses with foreign countries in the new era and make renewed, greater contributions to the high-quality development of the capital city.

Tian Wen pointed out that he could feel from speeches made at the meeting all members’ recognition of the 2020 work and expectations for the 2021 work. This year is the starting point of the national “14th five-year” plan period and the unique role of the working committee needs to be called into better play, expecting members to actively provide constructive input, play their role as a think tank and carry forward their sense of ownership to contribute to a perfect beginning of BAST’s “14th five-year” plan. 

Academician Xue Qikun summarized BAST’s efforts of communications with foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan in 2020 and fully recognized these efforts. He raised several specific requirements for the next steps: first, emphasize the need to raise the political stance, serve the overall diplomacy of the Party and the state and the foreign intercourse of Beijing under the guidance of Xi Jinping’s diplomatic thoughts, and drive the cause of communication with foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan to go deeper. Secondly, by closely encompassing the efforts to construct Beijing as a globally influential sci-tech innovation center and international exchange center, leverage the characteristics and strengths of mass organization work of the Party to actively conduct sci-tech and cultural exchanges with foreign countries and deepen sci-tech communication cooperation with Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Third, call into full play the guiding and policymaking consulting roles of the working committee, pool everyone’s wisdom and efforts to further raise the level of communications with foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, build broader platforms for sci-tech workers at home and abroad, promote nongovernmental sci-tech communication cooperation and fuel the development of BAST’s cause.   

Staff of the Department for International Affairs of BAST attended the meeting as nonvoting delegates.