Tehran – Science Minister Hossein Simai Saraf is taking part in the ninth meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states held on May 12th and 13th in Ulmki, China.
In the side job of the conference, staff visited an exhibition entitled “Chinese Research, Brand Identity, Comprehensive Services Platform” to showcase the latest educational, research and technical achievements of over 20 Chinese universities in various fields such as agriculture, industry, oil and petrochemicals.
Ministers of science from other SCO member countries, including China, Belarus, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, also visited exhibitions primarily aimed at enhancing industry-university relations.
Officials also participated in the opening ceremony of the “China-China Asian Industry, Education and Applied Research Cooperation 2025 Conference” held in front of some SCO member states.
The event served as a platform for the Minister of Science and the Prime Minister of Chinese universities to share knowledge and experience on how to promote collaboration between universities and industry, and to propose some of their joint projects.
Along with his Chinese counterpart Yin Hejun, Simaei-Sarraf attended the opening ceremony of the SCO University Conference. The event was attended by SCO member states, experts and scientists’ Ministers of Education, who specialize in developing educational contacts within the organization.
The SCO University network includes 74 universities, including Iran’s Shahid Beheshti University, with over 2,600 students. Creating and granting scholarships to students from SCO countries is one of the university’s main activities. Hosting a Borderless Education Week for Member Colleges was another focus of the event.
In 2024, Iran participated in the 8th conference as a full member for the first time after becoming an observer country for 20 years.
Iran and China emphasize further strengthening scientific ties
At a meeting held on Tuesday, Chinese Education Ministers Huai Jinpeng and Simaei-Sarraf explored ways to expand educational cooperation between the two countries.
Recognizing Iran’s capabilities and high rankings in science and technology, Chinese officials have expressed their willingness to deepen Iran-China cooperation by providing training in Persian and Chinese languages and promoting the exchange of professors.
“So far, China has given academic scholarships to more than 200 Iranian students. The country is willing to attract more Iranian students and have more Chinese students in Iran,” he added.
Huai also expressed that China is ready to develop an electronic education platform to strengthen education ties with Iran.
For his turn, Simaei-Sarraf emphasized the scientific, cultural, technical and philosophical commonalities between the two countries, saying that increasing interactions between elites will contribute to addressing people’s problems and enhancing relations between the two countries.
Emphasizing Iran’s remarkable advances in science and engineering, particularly biology, nanotechnology, stem cells, information technology, water engineering, dam and power plant design, aerospace and medical science, he said Iran is one of the top 10 countries with strategic science and technology in the world.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Shimaei Saraf emphasized the importance of expanding student exchange programs between Iran and China and promoting sabbatical leave opportunities for faculty and graduate students.
Strategic Partnerships
Iranian universities are investigating the possibility of developing scientific and research cooperation with Chinese and Russian institutions under strategic partnerships with both countries.
At a conference held in China on April 11, Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Technology Saeed Habiba and Secretary-General of the China Scholarship Board, Sheng Jianxue discussed ways to develop scientific cooperation between universities in the two countries.
The conference focused on holding joint academic courses, exchanging professors and students, expanding government scholarship programs, expanding technical relationships, scientific interactions and sharing expertise.
During the meeting, Habiba detailed the academic and scientific potential and capabilities of Iran.
Iran and China formally signed the document in March 2021 for a comprehensive cooperation of 25 years.
The document was signed between then-Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Foreign Minister Wang Yii of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
In December 2022, Iran and China confirmed 16 memorandums of understanding under the framework of both countries’ strategic 25-year contracts.
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