Huang Wei, vice minister of Science and Technology, addresses the opening ceremony of the inaugural China-CEEC Forum for Young Science & Technology Talents on Sept 22 via a video link. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

The inaugural China-CEEC Forum for Young Science & Technology Talents commenced in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province on Sept 22.

In his video address, Huang Wei, vice minister of Science and Technology, noted that China and the Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) both aspire to promote exchanges among young science and technology talents and strengthen bilateral cooperation in scientific and technological innovation.

He added that he hopes the forum would become a platform to strengthen China-CEEC ties in fields including digital economy, e-commerce and health so as to create new driving forces for world economic recovery and sustainable development. 

Lu Shan, vice governor of Zhejiang, said that Zhejiang will accelerate the construction of a number of research organs such as the China-CEEC Innovation Cooperation Research Center to provide platforms for young people from CEEC to engage in the province's R&D and innovation efforts.

He believes that the forum will pave the way for more scientific and technological achievements made by young people from China and CEEC and open up new space for bilateral cooperation.

Marina Sokovic, assistant minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia, also attended the forum via a video link.

Sokovic said that research organs from Serbia and China had achieved remarkable accomplishments in recent years, expressing hope that the two countries continue to strengthen cooperation in science and technology innovation and provide strong support for the high-quality economic development of the two countries.