Wang Pijun, secretary general of the Western Returned Scholars Association, delivers a speech at the third Sino-German Sci-tech Forum of Western Returned Scholar Association on Wednesday in Quanzhou, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Scholars, businessmen and officials from Germany and China gathered in the city of Quanzhou, Fujian province, on Wednesday for a forum aimed at boosting China-Germany friendship and sci-tech cooperation.

Themed "Creating a new future of Sino-German sci-tech cooperation: mutual support for common development", the third Sino-German Sci-tech Forum welcomed more than 200 participants from the two countries to discuss key areas with broad prospects for Sino-German cooperation, such as digital economy and intelligent manufacturing, new energy and automobile industry, life sciences and new pharmaceuticals.

Co-hosted by the Western Returned Scholar Association (Overseas-educated Scholars Association of China) and the Quanzhou government, the three-day event was received positively by the participants.

Ding Zhongli, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and president of the Western Returned Scholars Association, addressed the forum saying that in the current complex and ever-changing international environment, multilateralism is the only way to tackle global challenges.

"Both China and Germany are beneficiaries and advocates of multilateralism and free trade. We hope that professionals from the scientific and business communities of both countries can, via the forum, deeply understand the long-term and sustainable complementary nature of industrial technology between the two countries, continuously explore cooperation potential, build mutually beneficial bridges, and achieve mutual accomplishments and common development through innovative collaboration," he said.

Otto Hauser, chairman of the Federal Association of the German-Chinese Alliance, said Germany, Europe and China can define joint projects that are in the best interest of all. All parties need new opportunities for cooperation and the task of creating them under the conditions of the time.

China and Germany have a lot of experience to be shared, particularly in society, education and health, he added.

Li Qingdang, dean of the Chinesisch-Deutsche Technische Fakultaet at Qingdao University of Science &Technology, said: "Germany has accumulated many core technologies, but has a limited market and shrinking labor resources. China has more application scenarios, innovation and opportunities. Working together, we can integrate our advantages, build core competitiveness and promote common development."

Wang Zhihong, vice-mayor of Quanzhou, briefed the media prior to the event on April 25. "At the forum, the two countries can jointly explore and make use of our own advantageous resources to complement each other's strengths and promote scientific and technological empowerment to boost economic development and social progress."

Wang Pijun, secretary-general of the Western Returned Scholars Association, said the forum promotes international communication and people-to-people exchanges. "Only when more people get involved, can we promote mutual understanding," he urged.

The first Sino-German Sci-tech Forum was held in Berlin in 2018, and the second in Beijing in 2019.