Enhancing Asean-China science, technology cooperation

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): The establishment of the Council for Research and Advancement in Technology and Science (Creates) serves to support the development and growth of science, technology and innovation activities in Brunei Darussalam.

One of the projects funded under Creates, and implemented by Universiti Brunei Darussalam in collaboration with Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore was to conduct a study on individual antibody responses to the three types of Covid-19 vaccine that will assist in the public health policy formulation and future planning of disease control strategies.

Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib Mohammad Yusof shared this insight during the Special Session of Asean-China Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation held online on Tuesday (Dec 14).

The minister in his speech during the sharing session of the meeting expressed his appreciation and support for the activities proposed in the Action Plan, especially the Talented Young Scientist Exchange Programme (TYSP), the Asean Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Tour to China and training workshops for Asean member countries, adding it is important for all the activities proposed under the plan to be jointly implemented.

The Special Session of the Asean-China Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation also coincided with the 30th Anniversary of Asean-China relations and was co-chaired by Thai Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Dr Anek Laothamatas and Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang.

Among the issues highlighted were the exchange of views on the importance of innovation in science and technology and discussions on future opportunities to enhance cooperation in the field of science and technology to achieve mutual benefits.

Participants also exchanged views on the Asean-China Plan of Action for a Closer Partnership of Science, Technology and Innovation for the Future (ACPASTI) 2021-2025, which was adopted during the meeting.

Also present were Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) Mohd Nazri Mohammad Yusof and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Infocommunications) at MTIC Hairul Mohd Daud Abdul Karim and other senior officials at MTIC.