The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) will deepen its collaboration with its French counterpart, the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), on the basis of their fruitful partnership for almost half a century, and make joint efforts on researches for global sustainable development, according to a bilateral strategic dialogue meeting of the two sides held last week in Beijing. 

The bilateral strategic dialogue meeting is held to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. 

Scientists and experts at the meeting engaged in profound exchanges and communication on major scientific research tasks aimed at 2030, and discussed open-sharing cooperation mechanisms, especially to promote the science excellence in large research infrastructures. 

"We should maximize the strengths of our respective disciplines and large research infrastructures, utilizing large research infrastructures like synchrotron radiation sources and neutrino detection to build a collaborative partnership network marked by interdisciplinary attributes," said CAS President HOU Jianguo at the closing ceremony of the bilateral strategic dialogue meeting. 

Four Sino-French international research networks will be established by the two institutions, focusing on joint researches in particle physics, biodiversity conservation, climate change, as well as pure and applied mathematics. 

CAS and CNRS jointly signed the first institutional S&T cooperation agreement 46 years ago, marking the beginning of bilateral cooperation between China and France, and also initiated a science and technology collaboration era between China and the rest of the world. 

"Through the continuous efforts of several generations of scientists, our cooperation now spans fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, and materials science, yielding fruitful results," said President HOU. 

Both sides have an consensus to open a new chapter in bilateral institutional strategic cooperation, based on the solid foundation of collaboration accomplishments in the last five decades. 

"As national research institutions, CNRS and CAS should continue to conduct strategic dialogue and communication, and contribute ideas and strengths to promote global sustainable development for the benefit of all humanity," said Antoine Petit, President of CNRS.