Australian Consulate-General Guangzhou
Media Release: PD18/09 Date: 14 October 2009
Australia-China Scientific Collaboration Takes Important Step Forward
Xiamen, 14 October, 2009: Australia-China scientific collaboration took another important step forward today with the opening of the sixth Australia-China Symposium in Xiamen. The Symposium, which will examine the topic Towards Sustainable Coastal and Deltaic Systems under Climate Change, brings together around 60 eminent scientists from Australia and China to explore joint solutions to major environmental problems affecting coastlines and deltas.
The Symposium has been jointly organized by the Chinese Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Science, and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering with the support of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and Australian Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. The event was opened by Professor Lu Dongxiang, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and President of the Chinese Academy of Science, and featured addresses by Mr Liu Xigui, Mayor of the Xiamen Municipal Government, and the Australian Consul-General in Guangzhou, Mr Sean Kelly.
“The Learned Academies of Australia and China have cooperated over many years to facilitate collaboration between our two countries,” Consul-General Kelly said. “This Symposium is the sixth in a series created by the Academies and supported by both governments. Previous symposia have already led to major collaborative research in key areas such as water resources.”
The first Symposium was held in Melbourne in October 2004, with the theme of Living Sustainability – What Does This Mean for You?.A major outcome was the establishment of the Australia-China Centre on Water Resources Research, which has its Australian hub in the University of Melbourne. The second Symposium, on Plant Biotechnology, Animal Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Medical Devices, was held in Beijing in October 2005. The third one, focused on Energy, was held in Sydney in November 2006. The fourth, on Sustaining Global Ecosystems, was held in Beijing in August 2007. The fifth Symposium, on Remote Sensing, was in held Canberra, in November 2008.
“The value of international collaboration in science and research is multi-faceted,” Mr Kelly stressed. “Sharing of ideas, information and facilities strengthens the science systems of all participating countries, and allows our researchers to achieve results that they could hope to reach in isolation.’
“China is now Australia’s third largest partner for joint scientific publications, up from seventh place in 2001, Mr Kelly said. “Collaboration with China is growing faster than with any other of our major scientific partners.”
“Australian researchers have shown a keen appetite for bilateral collaboration with China,” Mr Kelly emphasised. “This can be seen in the rapid increase in joint publications, and the huge increase in applications to collaborative grants programs.”
“Australia has a proud tradition of innovation, and excellence in the sciences,” Mr Kelly added. “The inventiveness of Australians and our high per-capita rate of scientific publications demonstrate this. So does our high number of Nobel laureates, most recently Professor Elizabeth Blackburn who shared this year’s prize in medicine.” Australia boasts 12 Nobel Prize-winners in science and medicine.
“The Australian Government values Australia's achievements in science and innovation, and hopes to foster many more. The 2009 Australian Budget saw an unprecedented increase of 25% in the government’s expenditure on education, innovation, science and research.”
“Collaboration with our Chinese partners, in areas such as marine science will help us make best use of our investments.” Mr. Kelly concluded.
For further information, please contact Ms Lilly Ma, Public Relations & Events Manager (Tel: 020 3814 0126, E-mail: [email protected]).