Unveiling Ceremony of China-Serbia "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory Held in Belgrade
On May 20, 2024, the China-Serbia 15th Anniversary Science and Technology Cooperation Exchange Conference and Unveiling Ceremony of the China-Serbia "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory were held in Belgrade, Serbia. The event was present by Dr. CHEN Jiachang, Vice Minister of Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the People’s Republic of China; WANG Xiao, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of MOST; Dr. Ivana Vukašinović and Dr. Marina Soković, Assistant Ministers of Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation (NITRA) of Republic of Serbia; Prof. Dr. Vladan Đokić, Rector of University of Belgrade; and Prof. Dr. Tatjana Simić, Academician of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU).
Dr. Mirjana Mihailović, Director of Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia (IBISS), University of Belgrade, delivered the opening speech. She stated that since the cooperation between IBISS and Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, began in 2014, the joint team has achieved a series of fruitful scientific research results. In 2019, the two sides signed a cooperation agreement to build a joint laboratory in the field of natural products. In 2021, MOST approved the establishment of the China-Serbia "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory on Natural Products and Drug Discovery, which is a great encouragement to both parties. In the future, IBISS will continue to collaborate with SIMM, under the guidance and support of the science and technology ministries of both countries, to further exchange and cooperate in the field of natural products and drug research and development. Both parties aim to make the Joint Laboratory a prominent project of scientific and technological innovation cooperation between the two countries.
Assistant Minister Dr. Vukašinović presented the implementation of research projects funded by both governments since the signing of the China-Serbia Agreement Intergovernmental Science and Technology Cooperation 15 years ago. She emphasized the long-standing and profound friendship between China and Serbia and highlighted the deepening practical cooperation in scientific and technological innovation over recent years. The unveiling of the China-Serbia "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory serves as a representative example of this cooperation. Serbia has always placed great importance on academic exchanges with Chinese universities and research institutions and is eager to deepen cooperation with Chinese scientific and technological innovation institutions and enterprises to jointly promote the scientific and technological progress of both countries.
Vice Minister Dr. CHEN expressed in his speech that scientific and technological innovation cooperation is a crucial component of China-Serbia relations. Chinese President XI Jinping emphasized the significance of making innovative cooperation a new growth point in bilateral relations during his state visit to Serbia two weeks ago. Dr. CHEN pointed out that the construction of the Joint Laboratory not only promotes the development of science in both countries but also enhances the well-being of the people and makes positive contributions to basic research in related fields and the cause of human health. The Joint Laboratory is one of the highlights of China-Serbia scientific and technological innovation cooperation. He sincerely hoped that all parties to the cooperation can start anew, maintain the existing high-level cooperation, work together, and build the Joint Laboratory into a symbol of bilateral scientific and technological innovation cooperation. This would contribute to the deepening of traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation in science and technology between China and Serbia and contribute to the building of a China-Serbia community of shared future in the new era.
Prof. Dr. YE Yang, head of the Chinese side of the Joint Laboratory, and Deputy Director of SIMM, reported on the progress of the construction of the Joint Laboratory. Subsequently, with the witness of leaders from both ministries, YE and Mihailović respectively signed a new round of cooperation agreements for the construction of the Joint Laboratory on behalf of the two research institutes. Over the next five years, the two sides will carry out more in-depth practical cooperation in scientific projects, talent exchange, and graduate education. Finally, CHEN and Soković jointly unveiled the China-Serbia "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory on natural products and drug discovery.
The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Momir Paunović, Deputy Director of IBISS; HU Zhiyu, LI Rui, First and Second Secretary from the Chinese Embassy in Serbia; Dr. LIU Weihua, Assistant to Director-General of Wuhan Institute of Industrial Innovation and Development, as well as representatives from IBISS, University of Belgrade, SIMM and WHIIID.
Address by Dr. Chen Jiachang, vice minister of MOST of China
Address by Dr. Ivana Vukaš inović, Assistant Minister of Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of Serbia
Address by Dr. Mirjana Mihailović, Director of IBISS
Signing of Cooperation Agreement
Unveiling of China-Serbia "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory on Natural Products and Drug Discovery
Group photo of participants