Portugal and China have agreed to convene the Joint Science and Technology Committee in order to define areas of cooperation and create joint research instruments, Portugal’s Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, recently announced.

The decision was made following a meeting between Fernando Alexandre and China’s Minister of Science and Technology, Yin Hejun, in Beijing, during an official visit to China focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, science and innovation.

According to the Portuguese minister, the two ministers will lead the committee’s work, which is expected to meet shortly to define cooperation priorities and concrete mechanisms for putting them into practice.

The Portuguese-Chinese Joint Science and Technology Committee falls within the framework of the scientific and technological cooperation agreement signed by Portugal and China in 1993. Its mission is to promote joint research projects, researcher exchanges and other academic and scientific cooperation initiatives.

Fernando Alexandre also highlighted China’s growing relevance to Portugal in the areas of higher education, research and innovation, underlining the potential for further deepening bilateral relations in these strategic sectors.

(Source: RTP, 12 June)