Chinese Premier makes five-point proposal to boost China-UK scientific innovation cooperation

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made a five-point proposal here Friday to boost China-UK scientific innovation, especially in the fields of technological transfer, joint innovation program, energy and environmental protection, financial service and intellectual property rights (IPR).

Wen made the proposal when he addressed a China-UK business summit. He expressed his hope that the cooperation between the two countries in the fields could help push forward bilateral collaboration in technological innovation and two-way trade to a higher level.

The proposal includes:

-- Firstly, robustly developing bilateral trade in technology. Wen said China needs larger-scale technology import and re-innovation and by 2010, China's hi-tech import and export is expected to reach 800 billion U.S. dollars.

"At present, China-UK technology trade is less than ideally matched with our respective economic strengths, and we're ready to create conditions to let more Chinese people recognize the UK's technological competency", Wen said.

-- Secondly, actively cooperating on innovation. Wen said China is implementing the national medium and long-term scientific and technological development program by mobilizing all players involved in a bid to promote scientific progress and economic and social development.

"We challenge UK businesses to fully tap the broad market and scientific and technological resources in China, by setting up R&D centers here and forming technology alliances with local enterprises" Wen said, adding that China also encourages Chinese enterprises to go global, expand direct investment overseas according to international practices, and launch innovation-oriented cooperation with foreign partners on R&D, production and marketing.

-- Thirdly, reinforcing cooperation in energy and environmental protection. Wen said China is witnessing an increasing demand for environmentally sound products and new energy while it endeavors to build a resource-conserving and environmentally-friendly society.

He pointed out that the UK boasts leading experience and technology in energy conservation and environmental protection, and enjoys pronounced advantages on the R&D of renewable energy including wind power and bio-energy.

"We hope that businesses from both countries can expand cooperation in oil and gas exploration, R&D of energy-saving technology, and utilization of alternative and renewable energy", Wen said.

-- Fourthly, deepening cooperation in financial services. Wen said that the UK is an important international financial center, and is always a top provider of financial services and China is fostering various types of financial markets, by promoting innovation in the financial sector comprehensively.

"In that process, we need to absorb and draw upon best-of-class experience to modernize financial services according to international practices and we hope the UK can fully harness its rich experience and technological expertise in financial services, and engage in diversified and multi-level cooperation and exchanges with China," Wen said

-- Fifthly, cementing cooperation in IPR. Wen said he has expounded repeatedly that the future competition between economies will be the competition of IPR.

In recent years, China has built up a relatively complete legal regime on IPR, Wen said, stressing that China's attitude on IPR protection has always been clear-cut, and its action always resolute.

"I hope that China and the UK can work together and strengthen IPR cooperation in order to provide a strong assurance for innovation," Wen said.