The 20^th Meeting of Heads of Research Councils in Asia (A-HORCs) was successfully held in Guangzhou, China on November 20-22, 2023. Prof. Dou Xiankang, President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Prof. Lee Kwang Bok, President of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) and Mr. Sugino Tsuyoshi, President of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) headed their respective delegations to attend the Meeting.

With the theme of “Effective funding mechanism for highly-creative research”, Prof. Dou Xiankang introduced the latest progress of the reform of NSFC and the funding mechanism for highly-creative research. Prof. Lee Kwang Bok and Mr. Sugino Tsuyoshi introduced their respective funding policies and mechanisms. The three parties also discussed and reached consensus on the field of the 2024 Northeastern Asian Symposium, as well as the theme and place of the 21^st A-HORCs.

Jointly established by NSFC, JSPS and NRF, the A-HORCs Meeting has provided a platform for the leaders of the three funding agencies to meet regularly and discuss subjects of common interests with a view to strengthening high-level exchanges and collaboration in basic research.

Accompanying President Dou Xiankang were Acting Director General Zhang Yongtao from the Bureau of International Cooperation, Deputy Director General Yang Liexun from the Bureau of Planning and Policy.