Visit opens new science links with China

Cooperation: Dr Michael Spence with Professor Lu Yongxiang

Senior officials from China's national research centre for science and technology visited the University of Sydney today for talks with academic leaders.

Six delegates from the Chinese Academy of Sciences including the President, Professor Lu Yongxiang, met the Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence to sign a memorandum of understanding with the University.

They also took part in discussions with deans and leading research scientists, and were shown round the Centre for Ultrahigh-bandwith Devices for Optical Systems by the director, Professor Ben Eggleton.

Set up in 1949 by the new Communist government, the Academy of Sciences has been involved in most of China's technological advances over the past 60 years and has played a key role in its modernisation drive. It employs 55,000 staff and has given birth to numerous spin-off companies, including the computer technology giant Lenovo.

It also serves as a think-tank and is an advisory body to the government on science and technology.

Professor Lu, who first visited the University of Sydney 22 years ago when he was president of Zhejiang University, said Australia was now one of China's most important partners in both trade and education. In reply, Dr Spence said the Chinese government's investment in research was a far-sighted and wise policy.

The discussions covered food science, energy, IT and technology, nanoscience and biomedicine, with an emphasis on sustainable development.

Professor John Hearn, Deputy Vice-Chancellor International, said: "The visit gives us an opportunity to explore opportunities for cooperation in science, research, postgraduate education and training, and to establish a formal relationship between the Academy and the University."

In its 2009 Global Research Report, Thomson Reuters ranked the University of Sydney fifth in the world for scientific collaboration with China, based on the number of co-authored scientific papers.

Contact: Richard North

Phone: 02 9351 3191

Email: 420c0c0b0e451469192c11150c07471852391534442114431b1336