Mr. Zhou Ji, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering met with Mr. Bob Pullen, President of the South African Academy of Engineering in CAE office building on April 19. Both sides exchanged views as to strengthening the scientific and technological cooperation between China and South Africa. 

President Zhou expressed his warm welcome to Mr. Bob Pullen for his visit. Zhou said that, China and South Africa both belong to BRICS and the two peoples have long enjoyed deep friendship. China is willing to share the experiences gained with the scientific and technological development, as well as the science and technology research achievements with developing countries including South Africa. In addition, Zhou gave a brief introduction to CAE, as well as major consulting projects launched lately, suggesting that both sides should further enhance understanding and communication, thus making preparation for the signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding between both Academies prior to the 2014 International Engineering Science and Technology Conference. Zhou also proposed that both sides should promote exchanges and seek cooperation in fields like mineral processing, high-speed railway, water resources utilization, environment and energy etc. 

Mr. Bob Pullen thanked China for supporting and helping with the development of South Africa. He said that both countries had had close bilateral relations over the time, and the sighing of “Beijing Declaration” by heads of both states in 2010 which declared the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, would significantly help build an even closer bilateral relationship. Mr. Bob Pullen also said that, both the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the South African Academy of Engineering are CAETS members. In view of close partnership and membership, he expressed the willingness to maintain close and frequent exchanges, interaction and cooperation with CAE, and to further enhance and expand bilateral collaboration with CAE in fields like academic exchanges, personnel exchanges, seminars organization through joint efforts, cooperative researches and so on. (By Zhu Yu, May 2011; translated by Liu Chang)