The morning of November 4, 2018 witnessed the inauguration of an organization of organizations in Beijing: over 40 national, regional and international scientific and research institutions vowed to act in synergy to deal with common challenges facing “Belt and Road” (B&R) region countries with science, technology and innovation (STI).
Initiated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the newly launched Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) in the B&R Region is expected to play a key role in pooling STI resources from involved nations to propose and implement cooperative programs that target issues of their common concern.
Chinese President XI Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the launching ceremony of ANSO, saying that promoting cooperation in science and technology among countries constituted an important part in building B&R, and played a positive role in improving people’s livelihood, promoting development and coping with common challenges.
He expressed the hope that scientists from different countries can make full use of the alliance as a platform to carry out major science and technology cooperation, foster more talented people in innovation and entrepreneurship and enhance innovative ability in science and technology.
XI also called on scientists to make contributions to promoting people-to-people communication and sustainable economic and social development, the building of a green and innovative path for development and building a community with a shared future for humanity.
In his address to the opening ceremony, BAI Chunli, president of CAS and president of the newly launched organization, emphasized that ANSO aims to address a broad spectrum of issues ranging from environmental and climate change, biodiversity, to epidemics and infectious diseases.
The alliance will help further improve science exchanges and collaboration among B&R countries, BAI said.
According to BAI, CAS has built nine overseas science and education centers and carried out more than 100 scientific collaborative projects conducting research on the environment, resources, biodiversity, health and new drugs with countries and territories along B&R since 2013.
The alliance will publish consulting reports based on joint efforts, so as to provide scientific advice to governments and policymakers of the B&R countries. It will also help train young scientists and grant awards to promote cooperation among scientists and scientific institutions under the B&R Initiative.
The ceremony was also the opening of the second international seminar of B&R science and technology innovation.
