Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Professor Blade Nzimande is set to lead South Africa’s delegation to the Second Ministerial Belt and Road Science and Technology Conference in China next week.
“The Belt and Road Science and Technology Conference presents South Africa with a unique opportunity to enhance cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in key technology areas such as artificial intelligence, future energy, transport systems, and traditional medicines.”
The Minister believes these technology areas are also essential for South Africa’s long-term development.
Set to be held in Chengdu from 11- 12 June 2025, the conference will gather representatives from state-level agencies, scientific academies, and innovation enterprises from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The theme of the conference is “Together for Innovation, Development for All – Jointly Building a Scientific and Technological Innovation Community for the Belt and Road”.
A key part of the Minister’s visit to China will be a high-level meeting with his counterpart, Yin Hejun, who is the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology.
This meeting will review existing science, technology, and innovation (STI) collaboration between China and South Africa and explore new areas of possible cooperation.
The Minister’s programme will include strategic meetings with key Chinese institutions and companies, such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, the National Institute of Clean and Low-Carbon Energy, and Huawei.
The Minister’s delegation includes senior executives from various entities within the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), as well as the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).
In addition, Professor Motlalepula Matsabisa, a specialist in indigenous knowledge systems from the University of the Free State, will be part of the delegation.
Nzimande said South Africa’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation seeks to emphasise the importance of the strategic relationship between South Africa and China in the fields of science, technology, and innovation.
He said the ministry aims to showcase ongoing cooperation in areas that align with mutual development goals and to encourage young scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs from South Africa to engage in global innovation networks. – SAnews.gov.za
