The first meeting between the Iranian and Chinese technology working groups was held in the presence of a delegation from the ministry of sciences and technology of China at the location of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs.

According to the public relations and information center of the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs, the meeting of the science and technology strategic committee was held in China last year. This year, the first meeting of the science and technology working groups of Iran and China will be held in Iran to talk about the topics of the committee and increase the cooperation between the two countries.

In this meeting, the travel of the president of Iran to China and meeting with the Chinese president was pointed out as the cause of increased scientific and technology cooperation in order to define new topics of cooperation.

He continued: one of the most important measures taken in this regard was interactions with Iranian elites outside the country. Over the action, the “cooperation plan with Iranian experts and entrepreneurs outside the country” was prepared to be more seriously followed up.

Zakeri pointed out the development of startups in the country over the past few years, expressing: the number of startups has increased in Iran over the past few years. Currently, we have large and successful startups at the international level, which have huge economic activities.

According to Zakeri, all players in the innovation ecosystem of the country must cooperate with successful startups to form a dynamic and innovative ecosystem in the country.

Jianing Cai, deputy director general of the department of international cooperation of China, pointed out the necessity of establishing technology centers between Iran and China, expressing: creating technology and innovation centers between Iran and China is a necessity. We also need to provide the condition for establishment of more of these centers.

He continued: one of the most important priorities regarding the scientific relations of two countries is concluding more cooperation agreements in the field of technology.

According to Cai, the technological relations between Iran and China have been at an acceptable level, and the same cooperation can increase collaborations between the two countries.

Deputy director general of the department of international cooperation of China also asserted: development of scientific cooperation between two countries has been emphasized during the meetings between the presidents of Iran and China. We hope that the relations of the two countries are expanded in this regard.

One of the goals of this meeting was creating the ability to implement the agreement regarding joint research projects between the Vice-Presidency for science and technology affairs and ministry of science and technology of China. This agreement was signed in Qingdao, China in May 2018 and in the presence of presidents of the two countries.

He continued: currently and in line with the policy of science development in China, our country has signed 112 technological cooperation agreements with 150 countries.

Deputy director general of the department of international cooperation of China also pointed out: 10 Iranian elites and students are present in China for scientific research. We hope that their presence would lead to more cooperation of elites and professors of Iran with China.

During the meeting, different topics, such as increase of cooperation between the two countries in the area of science and technology parks and implementing joint agreements between the two countries in the field of technology park and holding workshops for this cooperation, implementation of joint cooperation on research projects, and inviting Chinese companies and institutes for cooperation with INOTEX exhibition.