On July 4, 2005, Minister XU Guanhua held talks with Madam Moratti, Italian Minister for Education, University and Research. Both sides reviewed progress of Sino-Italian S&T cooperation in recent years and expressed satisfaction over the results. The two sides briefed each other on respective S&T development plans and reached consensus on strengthening S&T cooperation between the two countries and on bilateral cooperation under the Sino-European cooperation framework.

At the meeting, the two sides signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Technology of People's Republic of China and the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research". This memorandum is aimed at coordinating the S&T cooperation among the research institutes of the two countries and promoting the stable and extensive development of the cooperative relationship. The two sides have selected the specific cooperation projects to promote technological innovation and industrial application in the nine priority fields of space technology, basic science, information & telecommunication, energy & environment, agriculture, medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, biotechnology, nanometer technology & material science, and cultural heritage preservation. The two sides will also facilitate the long-term S&T personnel exchange mechanism and set up joint research centers.

The Sino-Italy Government S&T Cooperation Agreement was signed in October, 1978. Through 20 years' development, the Sino-Italian S&T cooperation is becoming more and more active. The cooperation covers many fields such as agriculture, geo-science, space flight, environment, energy, high-energy physics, medicine and preservation of cultural relics. A number of projects have been successfully implemented such as Tibetan Yangbajing cosmic ray exploration. S&T cooperation has contributed to the development of Sino-Italian political relationship and economic and trade cooperation. Three of the four agreements signed during Premier Wen's visit to Italy in May 2004 are related to science and technology. The contents of mutual cooperation are becoming increasingly extensive and the cooperation modes are also richer and more varied. In the last two years, over 20 technical seminars have been held. The two sides have also jointly hosted the influential activities of "Sanitation Day", "S&T Result Exhibition" and "Industrial Design Exhibition".

(Source: most.gov.cn)