The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, will lead the South African delegation to the second Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology in the Belt and Road, to be held in China next week. "The Belt and Road Science and Technology Conference presents a unique opportunity for South Africa to strengthen cooperation with the People's Republic of China in key technology areas such as artificial intelligence, future energy, transport systems and traditional medicine."
These technological areas are also critical to South Africa's long-term development, according to the Minister.
The conference, to be held in Chengdu (Chengdu) from 11-12 June 2025, will be attended by representatives from government agencies, science academies and innovative enterprises from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The theme of the conference is "Together for Innovation, Development for All - Jointly Building a Science and Technology Innovation Community for the Belt and Road".
A key part of the Minister's visit to China will be a high-level meeting with his counterpart Yin Hejun, who is China's Minister of Science and Technology. This meeting will review the existing cooperation in science, technology and innovation (STI) between China and South Africa and explore new areas of potential cooperation. The Minister's agenda will include strategic meetings with key Chinese institutions and companies such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, the National Institute of Clean and Low Carbon Energy and Huawei.
The Minister's delegation includes senior executives from various entities within the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) as well as the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).
The delegation will also include Professor Motlalepula Matsabisa, an expert on indigenous knowledge systems from the University of the Free State. Nzimande said the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation was keen to emphasise the importance of the strategic relationship between South Africa and China in the areas of science, technology and innovation. He said the ministry aims to showcase ongoing collaboration in areas that are in line with mutual development goals and encourage young South African scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to engage in global innovation networks.
SAnews.gov.za/TheDiplomaticSociety.co.za/gnews.cz-jav
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