From October 15 to 16, the Sino-German University Presidents' Meeting and Jubilee of the Sino-German Center for Research Promotion (SGC), co-hosted by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the German Research Foundation (DFG), was held in Beijing. This event aimed to thoroughly implement the important instructions of President Xi Jinping on strengthening international scientific and technological cooperation, address global common challenges, systematically summarize the achievements of Sino-German basic research cooperation, jointly map out a new blueprint for future development, and promote mutually beneficial and stable progress of Sino-German and even China-Europe scientific cooperation at a higher starting point.

More than 130 participants attended the event, including Dou Xiankang, President of NSFC;Katja Becker, President of DFG; Dai Gang, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China; Patricia Flor, German Ambassador to China; presidents of over 20 well-known universities and scientists from both countries, such as Gong Qihuang, President of Peking University, Li Luming, President of Tsinghua University, Walter Rosenthal, President of the German Rectors' Conference, Michael Hoch, Chairman of the German U15 (15 top research-intensive universities) and President of the University of Bonn, and Angela Ittle, Co-President of the German TU9 (9 top technical universities) and President of the Technical University of Braunschweig; as well as heads of foreign institutions in China etc..

The Sino-German University Presidents' Meeting, themed "Collaboration in Science in a Changing World", saw in-depth exchanges among the guests on topics including "Use of AI in Research and Research Assessment", "Sustainability in Research and Research Funding", and "Challenges and Examples of Data Generation and Exchange". They put forward many forward-looking concepts and ideas, reached important consensus in multiple aspects, and injected new impetus into the deepening of cooperation between the two sides.

Through keynote speeches and review of achievements, the Jubilee of the SGC  systematically summarized the  achievements and experience since its establishment, and looked forward to key cooperation areas and directions in the future.

In his speech, President Dou Xiankang pointed out that scientific research cooperation between China and Germany has been continuously deepened, the mechanism for joint training of high-level talents has been increasingly improved, and the construction of scientific research cooperation platforms has achieved remarkable results. Over the past 25 years since its establishment, the SGC has built a joint scientific research funding model featuring joint consultation, joint construction, mutual trust and mutual benefit, and made important achievements in strategic cooperation, project funding and talent training, becoming an important bridge for Sino-German scientific cooperation.

Looking into to the future, NSFC and DFG will further strengthen strategic coordination, expand cooperation areas, enrich cooperation connotations, and innovate cooperation models, with an intention to build the SGC into a strategic hub for basic research cooperation to promote in-depth exchanges and collaborative innovation among scientists of the two countries; a highland for the training of young scientific and technological talents to cultivate a large number of future scientific and technological leaders with international perspectives, mastery of cutting-edge science and technology, and proficiency in cross-cultural cooperation; and an important platform for international cooperation, moving from project support to platform co-construction, mechanism mutual recognition and cultural mutual learning, so as to serve the scientific and technological development of the two countries at a higher level and contribute wisdom and strength to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

President Katja Becker said that the SGC was established 25 years ago with great foresight. This unique initiative has not only consolidated the foundation of Sino-German scientific cooperation, but also built a true bridge connecting the two countries and their two cultures. The SGC has become a recognized cooperation "access point" and "landmark" in the scientific community of China, Germany and even the world. In this ever-changing world, the SGC encourages the research communities of the two countries to strengthen dialogue and exchanges, think and act with a global perspective, and promote greater success of Sino-German scientific cooperation in the future by generating new ideas and expanding new perspectives.

Director-General Dai Gang emphasized that China has always regarded Germany as a priority partner in scientific and technological cooperation. The two sides have signed a number of cooperation agreements in various fields and implemented joint funding programs, creating a favorable cooperation environment for the scientific and technological communities of the two countries. As a co-constructed funding platform by the two sides, the SGC has played a key role in promoting multi-field scientific research cooperation, building a network of scientists, and establishing a long-term cooperation mechanism, effectively promoting the win-win development of scientific research institutions of the two countries.

Ambassador Patricia Flor stated that 25 years ago, based on long-term friendly relations rooted in common interests and mutual trust, the two countries established the SGC, which is a flagship project of Germany-China cooperation. China has reached world-class levels in scientific research in many fields such as artificial intelligence, and Chinese universities have further improved their global rankings. Germany-China cooperation in education and scientific research has great potential. Germany is willing to further strengthen cooperation with Chinese universities and scientific research institutions on the basis of fairness, reciprocity and mutual benefit, promote exchanges between scientists, enhance mutual trust, and jointly address global issues such as climate change and public health.

The participants unanimously stated that the event was held in a friendly, warm and fruitful atmosphere. Taking the 25th anniversary of the SGC as an opportunity, and under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, the two sides will thoroughly implement the initiative of international scientific and technological cooperation, further improve the cooperation mechanism, expand bilateral cooperation areas, carry out joint scientific research, train young scientific and technological talents, and work together to create a new landscape for Sino-German scientific research cooperation.

Founded in 2000, the SGC is an important platform for Sino-German scientific cooperation jointly established, invested in equally and managed together by NSFC and DFG. Over the past 25 years, it has invested a total of about 830 million yuan, supporting scientific researchers from China and Germany to carry out cooperation in fields such as natural sciences, life sciences, management sciences and engineering sciences, funding more than 1,370 high-quality cooperation projects, building a cooperation network connecting more than 20,000 scientists, producing more than 4,800 high-level academic achievements, and cultivating a group of scientific and technological leaders with international perspectives. It has become a model of international cooperation in the field of basic sciences.