DPM Aleksić meets with China’s Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun

Deputy Prime Minister Budimir Aleksić held a meeting in Beijing with Minister of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China Yin Hejun.

Expressing his gratitude for the visit, Minister Hejun stated that he was familiar with DPM Aleksić’s activities at The 4th China-CEEC Expo in Ningbo, noting that they mark a new chapter in strengthening and advancing bilateral relations, with a particular emphasis on science, technology, and education.

Minister Hejun emphasized that innovation is a key pillar of national development. He highlighted China’s significant investment in research and development—amounting to 2.68% of its GDP—and its impressive 11th-place ranking in the Global Innovation Index. He noted that China cooperates in science and technology with 160 countries and has formal agreements with 109 of them. The agreement with Montenegro was signed in May 2011, and since then, four sessions of the Intergovernmental Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation have been held. Hejun expressed the need to further explore the potential for collaboration between the two nations, as also framed within the China-CEEC platform. He announced that the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Committee is planned to take place in Montenegro later this year.

DPM Aleksić, thanking Minister Hejun for the warm reception, affirmed that this initiative and the work of the Intergovernmental Committee represent a meaningful platform for deepening future cooperation—especially through the exchange of professors, students, researchers, and experts. He recalled that following the 2011 agreement, three joint calls for co-financing scientific and technological cooperation between Montenegro and China had already been successfully implemented.

He further proposed that the Chinese side consider supporting the equipping of specialized laboratories—particularly science and technology parks—and providing donations to primary and secondary schools in Montenegro in the form of learning equipment for Chinese language studies. Aleksić emphasized the importance of more intensive scientific cooperation through the organization of scientific conferences, professional development, and the exchange of experts and ideas.

Minister Hejun expressed strong support for further collaboration in areas such as medicine, healthcare, technology, natural sciences, lab infrastructure, and school donations.

The meeting was also attended by Ambassador of Montenegro to the People’s Republic of China Branko Bulatović.

During his visit, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksić also took the opportunity to visit the Embassy of Montenegro in Beijing.