China, Arab countries expand cooperation in technology

YINCHUAN - Governmental officials, academics and entrepreneurs from China and Arab countries who gathered in Ningxia for a technical conference reached a consensus that two sides should further advance technology transfer and deepen cooperation.

More than 500 attendees from diverse sectors from countries including China, Egypt and Morocco, attended the 3rd China-Arab States Technology Transfer and Innovation Cooperation Conference Thursday, part of the ongoing China-Arab States Expo held in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Huang Wei, vice-minister of Science and Technology, said the idea of science, technology and innovation cooperation under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative has been put into practice and has been blessed with great achievements, which include increased cultural and people-to-people exchange, building of a Belt and Road international scientific organization alliance with participation of more than 40 countries and regions, as well as construction or consultation on science and technology parks in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, including Arab countries.

Doaa Khalifa, the minister plenipotentiary of the Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Egypt, said China and Arab countries have worked together to build joint laboratories, and China's science and technology and vocational education have benefited Arab countries.

Many Arab students, officials and technicians have access to training opportunities in China, which are conducive to cooperation between the two sides in the fields of science and technology and research, Khalifa said.

At the conference, China shared its advanced technologies in diverse fields including smart agriculture and water-saving irrigation systems, and also signed 10 deals of science and technology cooperation with several Arab countries, such as the construction of joint laboratories and big data service platforms.