The China-EU Science and Technology Year (CESTY) was launched on 11 October in Brussels. The running time of the CESTY coincides with the launch of the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme and the renewal of China’s 11^th five-year Plan, which has a strong focus on science, technology, innovation and competitiveness. Under the umbrella of the Year, activities will take place in China and the EU to promote co-operation across all fields of science and technology. Activities will include conferences, workshops, seminars, forums and exhibitions. Next to focusing on Research and Development policy, the CESTY will showcase infrastructures, research institutions, universities and enterprises involved in research and development both in China and the EU. Overall, the objectives of the EU-China year are to

• display and demonstrate the importance of China-Europe science and technology cooperation;
• raise Chinese and European scientific profiles on either side;
• open Chinese and European research programmes for greater collaboration and improve mutual understanding.

Cooperation between the EU and China has been growing in the past years: An official science and technology co-operation agreement was signed in 1998 and renewed in 2004. Under FP6 alone, more than 150 Chinese organisations took part in over 130 joint research projects, amounting to nearly €900 million in total project funding; and China will also be one of the Union’s major third country partners under FP7.