Upon invitation from the African Academy of Sciences, the South African Academy of Engineering and the French Academy of Medical Sciences, a delegation led by Pan Yunhe, Executive Vice President of CAE, visited Kenya, South Africa and France from December 6 to 14, 2012.

The delegation reached intent for agreement with the African Academy of Sciences for future cooperation in fields like personnel training, the project of digital library as well as construction of the future international knowledge center. In view of the geographically significant position (located at the center of the continent of Africa) of Kenya, it was of great strategic importance to collaborate with the African Academy of Sciences, as it had become the center of the science & technology as well as information network in Africa, through sub-centers in the four directions of east, south, west and north. 

CAE delegation and the South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE) identified four prioritized areas for future cooperation, which were: clean coal technology, smart city construction, mineral processing and advanced manufacturing technology. CAE Executive Vice President Pan Yunhe and SAAE President Puller renewed two Memorandums of Understanding on Cooperation, making the new agreement on areas for future cooperation that enjoy priority into them. Pan also met with the Minister of Science and Technology of South Africa during his stay there. 

After their visit to Africa, the delegates went to France and paid a visit to the French Academy of Medical Science. Both sides further clarified directions for future collaboration and signed the French Academy of Medical Science - Sevilla Award Agreement which aimed at encouraging outstanding young Chinese medical workers and personnel. Both sides also discussed mechanism and specific approaches for inviting retired academicians or professors (older than 65 in age) from the French Academy of Medical Science to work in China. 

In order to facilitate bidding work of the International Knowledge Center, CAE delegation also visited the headquarters of UNESCO while in France. Both sides exchanged thoughts as to the preparation work, the bidding process as well as the working plan for the next year of the “UNESCO International Engineering Science and Technology Knowledge Center”. UNESCO responded positively to this event, promising to cooperate in its way. It also stated that the launching of such a project was “just at the right time”. A special report on “Engineering” issued by UNESCO in 2011 was specially mentioned and emphasized on. This was the very first time for an important international organization in charge of education, science and culture to convey such a message, that is, the fact that human development in the world was facing huge challenges was already a significant consensus reached by the international community. And in the process of seeking for countermeasures and approaches to responding to the challenges and solving problems, the irreplaceable role of engineering science and technology was re-recognized and was placed great faith in. (By Department of International Cooperation, January 2013; translated by Liu Chang)