In an exciting twist during the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, China’s approach to science and technology stole the spotlight.
With export restrictions on crucial technologies from Western countries piling up, the host nation shifted its focus toward a tech-driven future.
President Xi Jinping passionately articulated his vision for the Belt and Road Initiative, offering it as a path to surmount the obstacles barring China’s technological and innovation aspirations.
He also boldly declared China’s stance against “unilateral sanctions” and disruptions in the global supply chain.
Collaborative Innovation: A New Horizon
Xi’s speech was laced with an emphasis on “advancing scientific and technological innovation” through cooperation with their Belt and Road partners.
The Chinese government unveiled an action plan, an eight-point blueprint for propelling the infrastructure scheme into the future.
This plan centers around leveraging the markets and talent of the participating nations to supercharge their technological progress.
A scientist from the Chinese Academy of Science, preferring anonymity, asserted that the most cutting-edge technologies on China’s wishlist are beyond the reach of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Nonetheless, he was optimistic about Xi’s new action plan, which he believed could provide a means to overcome the current challenges.
China’s ambition is to share its technology and experiences with other nations, while anticipating valuable feedback in return.
Over time, as the scientific and technological capabilities of Belt and Road member countries evolve, China could bolster its own development by drawing more global talent to work within its borders.
The Lab of Collaborative Dreams
Xi unveiled an ambitious goal within the action plan: to double the number of joint scientific laboratories between China and Belt and Road countries.
This expansion is slated to happen within the next five years. The laboratories specialize in various domains, including health, new energy, and agriculture.
These details emerged from a report by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on October 10.
These joint laboratories have been making waves in diverse fields. For instance, a facility in Egypt is pioneering “digital irrigation” to conserve water, while a lab in Portugal is spearheading research in space and sea exploration.
The Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO), a consortium aimed at uniting science institutions across Belt and Road countries, is instrumental in forging connections between China and its partner nations. ANSO projects span the globe.
In August, a delegation from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) visited researchers at the Russian Academy of Sciences under an ANSO partner project focused on watersheds.
In June, another CAS team journeyed to Sri Lanka’s University of Peradeniya to collaborate on an air quality monitoring project.
Nurturing Young Scientific Minds
During his engaging speech, Xi also emphasized the continued support for young researchers from Belt and Road countries.
He advocated for their participation in “short-term projects in China.” As of June, China had welcomed over 10,000 young scientists, according to the SCIO report.
Mirroring China’s predicament, Iran, another Belt and Road nation, has been grappling with US-led sanctions that have strangled research and development.
Parham Habibzadeh, a human geneticist at Iran’s Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, lamented in a 2019 interview that broad US sanctions on Iran had adversely impacted health and research, despite not being the intended target. Planning scientific studies in any field seemed “almost impossible.”
A joint statement from China and Iran in February underscored the need to strengthen cooperation in science and technology, spanning a range of areas, from renewable energy to nuclear technology and health science.
Technological Ties and Superpower Bonds
In the realm of tech, China and Russia have felt the sting of US bans on semiconductor exports, impeding the development of supercomputers, advanced artificial intelligence, and military technologies.
The two nations have embarked on a five-year roadmap aimed at fostering joint research in fields like artificial intelligence, materials science, energy, and space exploration, as reported by China Daily in March.
A Chinese academic, specializing in ecological governance, highlighted the potential of extensive collaboration with nations worldwide.
Such collaboration could broaden and enrich the demand and applications for China’s high-tech products and services, ultimately enhancing their performance.
As environmental issues continue to transcend borders, deeper cooperation with neighboring regions and nations could serve as a catalyst to address these global challenges.
In his impassioned speech at the forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded the Belt and Road Initiative, suggesting it could be instrumental in discovering “collective and truly effective solutions” to international problems. He believed that this strategy was dedicated to a common outcome.
Final Thoughts: A New Technological Horizon
In conclusion, the Belt and Road Initiative is not just about infrastructure development; it has evolved into a dynamic platform for international collaboration in science and technology.
China is leveraging its influence to not only propel its own technological advancements but also to support its partners in their quests for innovation.
As the world faces technological challenges and environmental crises, the Belt and Road Initiative could be the beacon of hope that guides us toward a brighter, interconnected, and tech-driven future.