China and U.S. Non-Government Science Organization Deepen Cooperation

PRESS RELEASE

China and U.S. Non-Government Science Organization Deepen Cooperation

Aug. 28, 2016 (EIRNS)—The leaders of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, meeting in Washington on Aug. 24, agreed to broaden their cooperation in science and research. The AAAS CEO, former New Jersey Rep. Rush Holt, a former Princeton fusion scientist, said following at the meeting: "These alliances not only lead to scientific revelations, they also transcend traditional political boundaries."

The head of China’s foundation Yang Wei reported that they identified four areas to expand partnerships: promoting women in science, helping to engage young researchers, strengthening links in science education and research, and improving scientific communication:

"Basic science, or basic research, is an enterprise shared by all human people. For many in this field, there is no competition. It is not like national defense, or the military.... Basic science is without borders."

Yang stressed the depth of existing cooperation, reporting that half of China’s scientific collaborators internationally are American scientists. The U.S. National Science Foundation reports that more than 18% of all U.S. internationally co-authored publications are with Chinese partners.

(The collaboration with China that is prohibited by law is bilateral cooperation in manned space flight. Other government and non-government agencies are not affected.)