The NSFC delegation led by Vice President Sun Jiaguang paid a visit to Cuba and Canada from October 25th to November 2nd, 2009 at the invitation of the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and Ryerson University of Canada. Delegates included Han Yu, Director-General of the Bureau of Policy, Bai Ge, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau of International Cooperation, and Zhang Zhaotian, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information Sciences.

During its visit to Cuba, the delegation was received by Minister Jose M. Miyar Barrueco and Vice Minister Fernando Gonzalez of the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment. Better mutual understanding was achieved and common interests were expressed from both sides on future bilateral cooperation in the fields of biology and nanotechnology, through talks between the delegation and scientists from research institutions in Cuba.

While in Canada, the delegation visited Ryerson University and University of Toronto, with a view of understanding the latest progress and trend of development in the filed of information sciences in Canada.