The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Max Planck Society (MPS) of Germany celebrated their cooperation of 30 years Monday morning in Beijing.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and German President Johannes Rau each sent their greetings to the 30th anniversary celebration of the scientific cooperation.

In his greetings, President Hu said that for centuries, the continuous development of science and technology has greatly promoted the process of mankind's understanding and utilization of nature, and at the same time strongly enhanced exchanges and cooperation between various nationalities and different civilizations.

In the modern era, Hu said, science and technology are developing vigorously and changing with each passing day. Strengthening international scientific cooperation is invaluable in helping peoples of different countries share innovative achievements of science and technology and thereby promote the lofty cause of world peace and development.

He said that with 30 years of joint efforts by the Chinese and German governments and scientists, the CAS and the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science have scored great achievements in scientific and technological cooperation, which is regarded as one of the world's most successful models of such cooperation.

"I sincerely believe that, with their friendly ties and cooperation, the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science and the Chinese Academy of Sciences will continuously enhance their efforts and keep on moving forward, expand their fields of cooperation, make ever more contributions to the development of science and technology, as well as the economies and societies of our two countries, and enhance the strong friendship between our peoples," Hu said.

President Rau said the joint initiatives and research projects of the CAS and the MPS have set standards for international scientific cooperation, which might help lead to understanding between various countries.

CAS President Lu Yongxiang, who is also vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili, President of the China Association for Science and Technology Zhou Guangzhao, MPS President Peter Gruss and German State Secretary of Education and Research Wolf-Dieter Dudenhausen, separately made remarks at the celebration.

The CAS is the best think tank in natural sciences and high technologies in China. The MPS is a top-ranking research body in the world. More than a dozen Nobel laureates worked for the society.

Since 1974, the CAS and the MPS have carried out multi-faceted cooperation in research.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2004)