Celebrating UK-Chinese chemistry collaboration

"As part of the RSC-SAFEA Visiting Researchers Programme, we have arranged 24 visits since 2010 - on average five visits every year. The UK academics on this programme have been wonderful ambassadors for us, showcasing their research and expertise to over 20 Chinese universities and institutions.

"Together our two organisations have been able to bring together many scientists and that has resulted in fruitful collaborations between our countries. Let us look forward to many more in the future. 

"As we agree to five further years of collaboration and mutual co-operation, I am very much looking forward to seeing the fantastic outcomes of further joint ventures between our two organisations."

The signing ceremony celebrated the success of the previous five years and sees SAFEA and the RSC commit to continue and strengthen the programme through the renewal of a memorandum of understanding. 

Professor Annie Bligh from the University of Westminster was the first UK-based academic to receive funding through the SAFEA and Royal Society of Chemistry partnership and has visited China twice to give lectures at partner universities. 

Professor Bligh, who was born in Hong Kong, said: "It's a huge honour to be involved in this programme. Partnerships between China and the UK are something I've been working on since 2003, especially with young people.

"I talked to a lot of young researchers on my visits to Chinese universities and found it very easy to be around them. I answered a lot of questions and I feel like a role model for them - a lot of them see how they can achieve as a Chinese person in a foreign country.

"I would love to do it again and again. I always have young people around me - I have had six Chinese PhD students in my research group - so it's good to see them moving on. I really relate to them and the difficulties they have studying in this country. When you're a researcher abroad you have to adjust to the culture as well as excelling in science."

The event included Frazer Macdonald, Head of Asia-Pacific at the UK Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Ms Zhang Yali, Deputy Administrator, SAFEA, who signed the memorandum of understanding with Royal Society of Chemistry Chief Executive, Dr Robert Parker.

Minister Counsellor of Science and Technology at the Chinese Embassy, Mr Chen Futao, welcomed the renewal of the memorandum of understanding. He said: "I think person-to-person contact is the foundation for good scientific co-operation.

"Last year the UK overtook Japan to become China's second biggest scientific partner. The Chinese government has chosen an innovation driven development strategy and put a lot of funding into research and development, an annual increase of around 20% in its research budget during the last five years.

"Knowledge and talent are the driving force for innovation. I think SAFEA and the Royal Society of Chemistry's Memorandum of Understanding is a wonderful channel for person-to-person contact."

Chris Cotton, Director of the China-Britain Business Council added: "The CBBC works at the business end, on how to bring a good idea, good research through to commercialisation, particularly with small and medium sized enterprises. 

"We are delighted to extend our congratulations to the Royal Society of Chemistry and SAFEA on the renewal of the MoU for collaboration after a very successful initial five years of operation. 

"This is testament to the effectiveness of the programme to date and we at CBBC look forward to continuing to support the ongoing activities of the Royal Society of Chemistry in China wherever we can."