A seminar on strategic partnership between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and its counterparts in four Nordic countries was held in Beijing on April 11. CAS President Lu Yongxiang delivered a speech at the seminar, which attracted more 100 scholars, science administrators, and diplomats from China, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

Lu said that experience in north Europe is precious for China. They have achieved world-renowned accomplishments by taking advantage of traditional industries and paying attention to high-tech development. The four countries are successful in building an innovation- and knowledge-based society by actively developing a national innovation system with their own characteristics.

A number of CAS institutes have established cooperative relations with Nordic countries in such fields as resource-related science and technology, the environment, communications and life sciences. In the future, according to CAS Vice Secretary-General Guo Huadong, CAS will further enhance its partnership with these countries in such fields as information technology and communications, environment and resources related science and technology, life sciences, nanotechnology, megascience facilities for lighting sources, and S&T development strategies.

Participants from the Nordic countries are optimistic about the future cooperation with CAS. Mr. Trygve Lande, a senior adviser to the Research Council of Norway, said that strategies for cooperation with China had been in place in Norway, with the emphasis placed on collaborative studies in the fields of sustainable development, energy and water source management and food safety.