Tech talk: State Council member Shi Dinghuan chats with Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology John Tsang.

Strengthening Pan-Pearl River Delta co-operation in innovation and technology can foster better utilisation of resources and talent exchange, achieving a win-win situation, Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology John Tsang says.

Speaking at the 4th Pan-PRD Joint Conference on Regional Co-operation in Science & Technology today, Mr Tsang said innovation and technology is the driving force for sustainable economic growth and industry upgrading, while the promotion of co-operation in this area is one of the essential elements in regional co-operation.

He said in the long term it will enhance regional capability in innovation and technology, speed up commercialisation of deliverables, reduce the reliance on imported technology and increase the international competitiveness of industry in the region.

Technology co-operation

Hunan Province's Department of Science & Technology director Wang Kemin said after careful planning and implementation in the last few years, technology co-operation in the region is promising.

He said the 11th Five-Year Plan period is a crucial period for technology co-operation in the region. Hunan chaired the joint conference last year.

State Council member and former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Science & Technology Shi Dinghuan said the joint conference will study ways to enhance regional co-operation to promote economic prosperity and technology development.  

He said Hong Kong has done a lot of work in recent years to effectively promote innovation and technology, which has created a conducive environment for development and laid a very good foundation for regional co-operation.

Planning study

At today's conference, members endorsed the Planning Study on Pan-PRD Co-operation in Science & Technology for 2006-2010 and agreed on ways to jointly implement suggestions of the study for enhancing regional co-operation in technology and innovation.

They agreed the co-operation should aim to:

* jointly establish an environment and mechanism conducive to innovation and technology co-operation;

* realise the opening up and sharing of technology infrastructure and resources;

* enhance co-operation in the nurturing and exchange of technology talents;

* jointly nurture industry clusters with regional characteristics; and,

* undertake joint research of international quality.

Of the 20 projects proposed by the study to achieve the overall target of co-operation on development, members agreed 12 should be taken forward first. For details, click here.

The conference also unanimously agreed the 5th conference will be held in Jiangxi Province next year.