Sci-tech policy expert calls for greater int'l cooperation

By Yuan Fang
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, July 28, 2021
Adjust font size:

The international science community should boost cooperation to better address global challenges despite the negative impact from today's complicated international political situation, said an expert on sci-tech policy in Beijing on Tuesday.

Xue Lan, vice chairman of the Board of the Chinese Association for Science of Science and S&T Policy and dean of Schwarzman College of Tsinghua University, made the remarks at the 23rd annual meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology that took place in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Xue said that many new challenges have emerged in recent years in international science and technology cooperation, with one prominent challenge being posed by relations between major countries.

The whole world has benefited a lot from thriving international science and technology cooperation over the past decades, so the scientific principles, norms and concepts formed in the process — such as the idea that "science has no borders" — must be upheld despite different voices hampering cooperation for political and other purposes, Xue noted, calling on the international science community to unite against such voices.

The expert also called for greater international cooperation on risk management, citing the example of artificial intelligence, which, while bringing tangible benefits, may also pose risks and security challenges.

Though there is an international consensus that such risks must be regulated, efforts are scattered among countries and may bring greater danger rather than achieve the desired results, Xue explained, calling for innovations to cooperation mechanisms in this regard. 

Xue believed that another area for international cooperation is cultivating young people with international vision, which will be key to dealing with future challenges. 

Every country is cultivating young people, but more effort needs to be done to cultivate young people with a keenness for international cooperation, he noted. While this is something that Schwarzman College of Tsinghua University is doing, he acknowledged that more effort is necessary.

Xue added his hope that there will be more international exchanges and cooperation for young scientists.

He also stressed the importance of communication between the scientific community and the general public, which was made all the more apparent during the pandemic, as a surprisingly high number of people around the world have had misgivings about the efficacy of vaccines. 

There is a long and arduous way to go to communicate science to the general public, Xue said, reiterating that efforts must be intensified.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:    
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter