Hong Kong Economic Herald:

My question is for Minister Wang Zhigang. In the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, what new measures will the Ministry of Science and Technology take to support technological innovation in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area? Thank you.

Wang Zhigang:

Thank you for your question. First of all, Hong Kong's scientific and technological strength is an important part of the national innovation system and national strategic scientific and technological strength. I myself have been to several universities, incubators, and youth entrepreneurship high-tech zones in Hong Kong and I can say that they do have a strong sense of science and enthusiasm for technological innovation as well as great enthusiasm and incentive to jointly promote national technological innovation with the mainland. Our work is to promote the construction of an international science and technology innovation center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area under the guidance of the central government's work policy on Hong Kong, support Hong Kong's construction of an international innovation and technology center, and help Hong Kong's scientific and technological development integrate into the national innovation system and into the overall development of the country.

First, we will further expand the central government's science and technology fiscal plan to Hong Kong and Macao. We will also support Hong Kong's strong scientific research institutions and scientists to take the lead or cooperate with mainland institutions to undertake national basic research tasks, support Hong Kong and Macao scholars to participate in international scientific programs and projects, participate in international scientific and technological organizations, and play a greater role generally.

Second, we will promote substantial scientific and technological cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao by taking scientific research project cooperation as an important starting point. We will continue to organize and implement joint R&D projects funded by the mainland and Hong Kong, further strengthen the top-level design, focus on people's livelihood and industrial applications, and encourage Hong Kong, Macao, and the mainland to carry out industry-university-research cooperation.

Third, we will vigorously support Hong Kong's construction of a national-level scientific research platform carrier. We'll strengthen the collaborative innovation of the two sides, deploy and build national laboratories, comprehensive national science centers, and national technological innovation centers in the Greater Bay Area, and attract high-level scientific research institutions from Hong Kong and Macao to participate. We will also promote the construction of a number of scientific and technological cooperation bases with Hong Kong and Macao in the mainland, especially in the Greater Bay Area.

Fourth, we will deepen scientific and cultural exchanges, support the innovation and entrepreneurship among young people in Hong Kong and Macao, encourage strong and willing universities and scientific research institutions in Hong Kong and Macao to join the national science and technology entrepreneurship research and training center system, support Hong Kong to continue to host activities for Hong Kong entrepreneurial youth to come to the mainland, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with mainland entrepreneurial incubators, and provide a development platform for outstanding Hong Kong scientific and technological personnel to launch their careers. We are planning the establishment of a Hong Kong youth science and technology cultural exchange program, helping young scientific and technological personnel from Hong Kong study and research at mainland scientific research institutions as well as create more opportunities for Hong Kong youth to develop in the mainland, especially in the Greater Bay Area.

I want to stress this in particular. Every time I go to Hong Kong and Macao, some experts and scholars in their universities, research institutions, and enterprises are indeed very enthusiastic about participating in scientific and technological innovation throughout the motherland and in the mainland, and they are very capable. Their laboratories, their achievements, their professional knowledge, professional ethics, and international vision all impressed me deeply. In our work, we must unswervingly regard Hong Kong and Macao's scientific and technological strength as an important part of national scientific and technological strength. This in turn will create more opportunities for them to participate in national scientific and technological innovation and development. Here, I would also like to express my gratitude to them. Thank you.