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CAS President LU Yongxiang held talks with Madame Catherine Brechignac, president of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), and her delegation on Nov. 21 in Beijing.
Lu extended his welcome to his French counterpart and her party, briefing the French visitors on the progress of the "Knowledge Innovation Program," which has been implemented at CAS since 1998. He said CAS would like to further cooperative partnership with research institutes in France and other European countries. He made five suggestions on this regards: holding Sino-French forums to promote mutual understandings between young scientists of the two countries; making joint applications to research projects in the EU Framework Program for Research and Technological Development; setting up partnership groups in the fields of mutual interest and with close collaborative links; French researchers are welcome to participate in the magscience projects launched in China; and holding joint doctoral programs.
Brechignac said that China is a very important collaborator of France in scientific research, and she will give a careful consideration to the proposal, hoping the two sides would define and implement cooperative projects with remarkable success.
The two presidents also held discussions on issues concerning talent training, evaluation of research institutes, and the establishment of institute networks.