Shenzhen, Belgium forge deeper biomedicine cooperation

Shenzhen Huaya Regional Economic Development Service Center and Belgium’s Wallonia Export-Investment Agency (AWEX) signed a strategic agreement to further deepen cooperation in biomedicine at a forum, a sub-event of the 23rd China Hi-Tech Fair (CHTF), which was held yesterday in Nanshan District.

Didier Denayer, business development and technology counselor of AWEX, said at the Belt and Road Forum for Innovation Cooperation that the signing is a follow-up to the two sides’ collaboration formed in 2019, adding that concrete projects will be mapped out afterwards.

The Belt and Road Forum for Innovation Cooperation, themed around digital information and Belt and Road Initiative opportunities, attracted nearly 200 online and offline participants.

Invited guests, including Jose Roberto de Andrade Filho, head of the science, technology and innovation section of the Embassy of Brazil; Qu Jian, vice president of the China Development Institute (CDI); and Aitor Mate, head economic and commercial counselor of the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Guangzhou, delivered speeches at the forum.

De Andrade Filho said that Brazil is accelerating the digital transition of its economy and expecting wider 5G technology implementation. From his viewpoint, 5G development can help spur progress in many sectors such as e-commerce and technology.

Qu suggested in a keynote speech that huge business potential lies in developing countries along the Belt and Road. To seize the opportunities, international cooperation is necessary. “We need to first recognize and then satisfy developing countries’ demands via international innovation cooperation,” Qu said.

The forum was hosted by the China Hi-Tech Fair Organizing Committee Office and organized by the China Hi-Tech Transfer Center and Shenzhen Huaya Regional Economic Development Service Center, a nonprofit service organization that promotes two-way investment and cooperation along the “Belt and Road.”