On October 24, 2016, Chinese Ambassador Zou Xiaoli met at his official residence with Prof. Xu Jianpei, Secretary General of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, who came to attend the 2nd ASEM Seminar on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development.  Mr. Zhu Shilong, Deputy Director-General of Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission was present. 

Secretary General Xu positively assessed the outcomes of the seminar.  He said that the establishment of the Europe Coordination Office of the ASEM Cooperation Center for Science, Technology and Innovation would give further impetus to Asian-European and Sino-Greek scientific and technological cooperation to realize the extensive and orderly transfer and transformation of innovation achievements, so as to promote sustainable economic and social development.  To fulfil the roles of Beijing Center and its Europe Coordination Office, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China will support the close collaberation between China's relevant deparments and Greek sides, to promote the Asian-European scientific, technological and innovation cooperation to achieve more results.  Secretary General Xu viewed his talks on the same day with Prof. Fotakis, Greek Alternate Minister for Research and Innovation, was pragmatic and efficient.  The two sides reach a number of important consensus.  In the future, Sino-Greek scientific and technological cooperation will focus on the creation of science and technology parks, marine cooperation, technology transfer, green agriculture, and protection of cultural heritage, to better serve the economic development of both countries and deepening of bilateral relations. 

Ambassador Zou congratulated the successful conclusion of the seminar and the awarding of the Europe Coordination Office.  He said that the Europe Coordination Office of the ASEM Cooperation Center for Science, Technology and Innovation was the first multilateral coopereation agency initiated by China and set up in Greece, which was conducive to boosting confidence and stengthenging cooperation.  He believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, Sino-Greek scientific and technological cooperation will make greater contributions to enriching the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.