[LINK] Macao chosen as science and tech platform

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

It seems Macao will be a world standard science and technology incubator:

www.chinaview.cn  2008-07-04 17:54:51 
 
    MACAO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Macao will position itself as a platform for 
science and technology exchange, so as to boost the cooperation of this 
area between the Special Administrative Region(SAR) and the Chinese 
mainland, said Lau Si Io, the SAR's secretary for transport and public 
works, on Friday. 

    Lau made the remark at the second meeting of "Mainland-Macao Science 
and Technology Cooperation Committee" held here on Friday. 

    Vice minister of China's Science and Technology Ministry, Shang Yong, 
who headed an official delegation to Macao, also attended the meeting. 

    Although the two sides' science and technology cooperation is still in 
its initial stage, Macao is capable of playing its role as a platform 
promoting the two-way transfer of research achievements between the 
Chinese mainland and foreign nations and regions, said Lau. 

    In the past year, exhibition events concerning new technology in 
various fields, such as the Macao International Environmental Cooperation 
Forum and the Macao International Medicine Expo, were held here. 

    Lau noted that these were all "beneficial attempts" for the SAR to 
establish itself as a platform for science and technology exchange in the 
comprehensive cooperation between Macao and the mainland. 

    In October 2005, the two sides signed an agreement on the 
establishment of the Committee, which held its first meeting in Beijing, 
capital of China, last year. 

    The committee has listed four areas as the priority of the two sides' 
cooperation, which included Chinese medicine and pharmacology, 
environmental-friendly and energy-saving technology, electronic and 
information technology, and the dissemination of science and technology 
knowledge. 

    For his part, Shang pointed out that the joint projects concerning the 
four areas should be implemented as soon as possible, and in the meantime, 
the Chinese mainland authorities will give full support to the regional 
cooperation between Macao and neighboring mainland provinces and 
municipalities. 

    According to Lau, universities in Macao has laid out their plans of 
scientific research development for the near future, by building more 
facilities, bringing in more talents, and strengthening their connections 
with science and technology institutions and labs worldwide. 

    "Hopefully, under the framework of the committee, the cooperation can 
help (Macao) universities find their key research fields," Lau said.
     
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/04/content_8491136.htm
--

Cheers people
Stephen Loosley
Victoria Australia