The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China's top research group, held a workshop Wednesday on international cooperation with its counterparts in West Europe, in a bid to strengthen mutual understanding and future academic exchanges.

More than 20 representatives from 14 well-known scientific bodies in seven West European countries took part in the workshop on improving bilateral partnerships.

At the opening ceremony, CAS president Lu Yongxiang said that China and West European countries had worked well together during the past two decades. The two sides cooperated over personnel training, academic research, project management and the study of scientific policy.

Lu said that the European Union's adoption of the sixth framework project on scientific research, China's entry into the World Trade Organization and its steady economic development would make further cooperation between the two sides possible.

Several prestigious research institutes such as the Royal Society of Great Britain and the Academy of Finland, as well as top CAS research institutes submitted their reports to the two-day workshop.

After the workshop, European scientists are scheduled to visit major research centers in China.

The CAS has been in collaboration with European scientists since the 1970s. Half its cooperation agreements are with its West European counterparts.

The two sides have focused on establishing young scientists' groups, joint laboratories and scientific research centers.

Guo Huadong, CAS deputy secretary-general on international cooperation, said that his academy would build up a closer strategic partnership with West European countries.

(People's Daily May 30, 2002)