Science, technology and innovation (STI) are important drivers of global economic and social development, with science and technology being the primary productive force and innovation being the primary engine for growth. For a long time, China and ASEAN have carried out mutually beneficial and dynamic STI cooperation, contributing greatly to the peace, prosperity and development of the Asia-Pacific region. In 2018, the 21st China-ASEAN Summit issued the Joint Statement on China-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation which laid out a plan for future STI collaboration. In 2021, in response to the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s proposal of launching the China-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Enhancing Program, the two parties adopted the China-ASEAN Plan of Action on a Closer Partnership of Science, Technology and Innovation for the Future (2021-2025), which specified the objectives, working mechanism and measures for STI cooperation between China and ASEAN. Facing the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and the common needs of maintaining the safe and unimpeded industrial and supply chains and confronting global challenges, we, China and ASEAN member states, will further enhance exchanges and cooperation under the principles of mutual benefit, win-win, inclusiveness, openness and common development, and jointly advance the China-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Enhancing Program, providing new engines for regional development through STI collaboration. For this purpose, we propose the following:

I. Continue boosting friendship and people-to-people exchanges, and jointly develop a regional hub of innovators. Talent is the foundation of sustained development of STI. Academic cooperation and technical interactions between different countries will promote knowledge exchange and collaborative innovation within different fields, leading to the rapid development of STI. We will encourage researcher mobility and joint research by scaling up people-to-people exchange programs. We will give more weight to the training and capacity-building of young researchers and jointly cultivate human resources via short-term training programs in various fields.

II. Build open, inclusive and competitive research cooperation platforms for closer STI partnership. Research cooperation platforms are the anchor for pragmatic collaboration. Building platforms across various fields will provide stable, reliable and efficient environment for cooperation. We would like to develop platform-based long-term cooperation mechanisms such as joint labs or joint research centers, STI cooperation alliances, and high-level workshops in health，digital and green economy and other fields. In doing so, we aim to facilitate interactions between government, universities, research institutes and businesses, increase access to research instruments and facilities, promote the integration and better allocation of innovation resources, all in a bid to form a more open ecosystem for regional innovation.

III. Facilitate technology transfer as well as innovation and entrepreneurship cooperation to boost regional economic prosperity and social development. Science and technology are closely linked to economic and social development. Technology transfer, innovation and entrepreneurship are the accelerators of the fourth industrial revolution. We will make sure more innovation outcomes deliver benefits to the people in both China and ASEAN. We will organize more technology transfer and innovation cooperation activities through the China-ASEAN Technology Transfer Center, to boost collaborations in areas such as sustainable development and agricultural technology for poverty relief. We will hold innovation and entrepreneurship competitions to facilitate collaboration between innovators and entrepreneurs, improve incubation services, and promote the development of emerging industries. We will strengthen women’s capacity in technology development, innovation and entrepreneurship, bolster IP protection and foster an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.

IV. Focus on priority areas and jointly tackle common challenges through innovation cooperation. Addressing common development challenges calls for international STI cooperation and opening up more than ever. We will conduct joint research and develop flagship projects for cross-cultural and interdisciplinary cooperation in areas of common interest such as biology, information, manufacturing, space, ocean and environment. We will explore cooperation models for applications of new technologies in AI, digital economy, smart cities and relevant fields, so as to bridge the digital divide.

V. Strengthen policy dialogue to build a coordinated cooperation mechanism. By leveraging the role of the Joint Committee on China-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation, we will set out well-designed objectives of cooperation plans and measures, establish a monitoring, evaluation and safeguard mechanism, increase understanding of our respective science and technology policies, R&D needs and legal systems, share and draw on science and technology management rules and innovation paradigms, so as to provide a better policy environment for innovation players.

We will play our positive role in STI partnership under the framework of open, transparent and inclusive cooperation, and promote inclusive and innovation-driven growth. We warmly welcome the extensive participation of innovation players from China and ASEAN members. Together, we will usher in a bright future for China-ASEAN STI cooperation and contribute to the development of China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.