China and Russia to establish high-tech center

Science and technology parks from China and Russia agreed on Friday to further promote the construction of a Sino-Russian high-tech center.

The agreement, announced at the Russian embassy in Beijing, will allow the two sides to decide terms for a partnership in the construction of a high-tech center in Skolkovo, Russia. The Skolkovo Foundation will provide the land while Tus-Holdings Co Ltd and the Russia-China Investment Fund will jointly finance the project.

George Zinoviev, charge d'Affaires of the Russian embassy to China, said it was inevitable that the countries would choose to strengthen their cooperation in scientific and technical innovation for their long-term interests. Using new platforms to promote science and technology start-ups would also be a long-term aim. Tus-Holdings' involvement in the Skolkovo Technology Center would help attract promising Chinese companies and introduce advanced experience.

Existing Sino-Russian cooperation in science and technology has encountered some problems, including insufficient overall marketization and a lack of forward-looking and sustainable policy building, a lack of effective information channels and a short of relevant talents.

Wang Jiwu, chairman of Tus-Holdings, said that the establishment of science and technology parks was an effective way of solving problems in technological innovation.

The new center will become a display channel for high-tech achievements and products from China in Russia and a base for cooperation between innovative high-tech industries. Both parties will make efforts to set up a high-level, efficient, specialized and innovative model of cooperation through the project, and promote the exchange of science and technology between China and Russia.

As for the industrial sectors, Wang said that in the past high-tech enterprises might have only developed in a single area, such as medical treatment or education. Now, however, there were more cross-industrial enterprises.

"As long as the enterprises have passed the examination of science and technology centers and are regarded as science and technology innovation enterprises, they can settle down in the park," he said.