At the China-EU summit on 5 September, both sides confirmed their intention to strengthen the China-EU Science and Technology partnership, which is based on substantial achievements of mutual benefit. They recognised that the Joint Declaration and the Vision Paper adopted in Beijing in May 2005 and the CO-REACH initiative laid a strategic foundation for further cooperation. They will create the appropriate conditions for a series of high impact Science and Technology events in China and Europe starting in 2006 to prepare for a “China-EU science and technology year”.