At the meeting

On November 1, 2024, In order to further strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between China and South Africa in scientific and technological innovation, the secretariat office of ZGC Global High-Level Think Tank Alliance (hereinafter referred to as the Think Tank Alliance), jointly with European Risk & Resilience Institute (EU-VRi), LSV Group of South Africa, Beijing Beike Holdings Co., Ltd., Beijing Association of Invention and other domestic and foreign institutions, successfully held a special online meeting for project matching of international cooperation with South Africa. Li Junkai, secretary-general of the Think Tank Alliance and director of the Center for International and Regional Cooperation of Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, presided over the meeting.

At the meeting, Professor Aleksandar JOVANOVIC, CEO of the European Risk & Resilience Institute (EU-VRi) and honorary advisor of the Think Tank Alliance, introduced the background of the meeting. He said that as an honorary advisor, he will spare no effort to build a bridge of communication between the Think Tank Alliance and international partners, and promote in-depth cooperation between all parties in more fields. Sibongile Thembela, executive director of LSV Group in Pretoria of South Africa, gave a detailed introduction to South Africa's need of cooperation in the field of medical plastic products. She also expressed a strong willingness to strengthen cooperation with China.

Subsequently, Hou Tongxiao, chairman and general manager of Beijing Beike Holdings Co., Ltd., and Lu Xiaotian, chief of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Business Division of Beike Holdings company, introduced the basics and related resources of the company, focusing on its advantages and achievements in science and technology investment and financing, the coordinated industrial development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the operation of the park’s assets. Zhong Zhixuan, secretary-general of Beijing Association of Invention, introduced the work and achievements of the association in enhancing scientific and technological innovation, promoting industry-university-research cooperation and other aspects. She also expressed her willingness to support the cooperation of South Africa.

In Li Junkai’s concluding remarks, she said that the successful holding of the online exchange meeting on international cooperation with South Africa has laid a solid foundation for future in-depth cooperation between all parties. She stressed that the Think Tank Alliance will continue its work in the following aspects: to give full play to its advantages as a platform; to strengthen communication and cooperation with all parties; jointly to explore new opportunities for cooperation; to make more projects of substantive cooperation come to fruition; and provide new impetus and inject vitality into scientific and technological cooperation between China and Africa.

Geng Nan, deputy director of the Center for International and Regional Cooperation of Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, and the backbones on relevant work of the secretariat office of the Think Tank Alliance attended the project matching meeting.

(Text and photo by the secretariat office of the Think Tank Alliance)