Li Xiaohong, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and Zhou Ji, Honorary Chairman of the CAE Governing Board, met with M. Jamal Deen, former President of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada (ASRSC), Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and Professor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McMaster University, and his delegation on January 25, 2019.

Views were exchanged on promoting cooperation among the CAE, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the ASRSC.

Li welcomed Professor Deen and his delegation and pointed out that China is currently carrying out extensive cooperation and playing an active part in the international S&T innovation, and strengthening the development of an innovative atmosphere. Li then outlined CAE’s main functions, general situation and its recent major consulting projects to meet major domestic needs, such as in energy, manufacturing and AI. Li hoped that the Canadian Academy of Engineering and ASRSC would further deepen their S&T innovation cooperation with the CAE, and that Professor Deen and his team would strengthen cooperation with China on microelectronics.

Zhou mentioned the positive interactions between the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the CAE through the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS). The two academies held CAETS Energy Committee meetings in 2016 and 2017 respectively, promoting the international exchange in the energy field. Zhou recommended that both parties should make good use of the CAETS to expand cooperation in key areas.

Professor Deen thanked Li and Zhou and introduced the member composition of the ASRSC, briefed on S&T innovation and evaluation system of research projects in Canada, and Canada’s cooperation with relevant Chinese organisations and Chinese companies operating in Canada. Deen expressed admiration for China’s recent achievements in S&T innovation and the role industry played in strengthening the connection between research institutes, universities and businesses, promoting the transformation of research results, and emphasising the role of social sciences in S&T innovation. He expressed willingness to carry out exchanges such as joint frontier research and bilateral seminars in areas of mutual interests, including energy, smart manufacturing, microelectronics, and precision medicine.

Huang Lin, Deputy Inspector at the International Cooperation Bureau of the CAE, and Shen Weiming, Professor at the School of Mechanical Science and Engineering of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, also attended the meeting.