State key laboratories in Macao promote local, national scientific, social progress

The state key laboratories in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) are playing a vital role in fostering scientific and social advancements, benefiting not only the region but also the broader motherland.

At the State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences, under the Macao University of Science and Technology and being the first of its kind, researchers are analyzing meteorites.

"Studying meteorites allows us to gain insights into the growth and evolution of the Earth as a whole, including the formation of its magnetic field and the existence of an atmosphere, oxygen, water and other essential components in the development of planetary matter," said Zong Qiugang, director of the laboratory.

Researchers at the laboratory have been involved in significant aerospace projects such as Chang'e lunar exploration activities and the Tianwen Mars exploration missions. The rapid development of the country's aerospace sector has opened up new avenues for their research.

"We are also scheduled to participate in the Chang'e-8 lunar mission in the future, as China plans to establish a relatively long-term lunar research station on the moon," said Zong.

At the University of Macao, the State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City is conducting a series of researches on urban intelligence, bringing fresh energy to the development of Macao through innovations in smart transportation, smart energy management and smart bridge monitoring.

Many of the smart technologies developed in Macao are transferred to the Zhuhai UM Science and Technology Research Institute, a comprehensive and international industry university research based in Hengqin, where these scientific advancements are further developed and expanded.

Hengqin is an island in the city of Zhuhai, adjacent to Macao.

"Because Macao historically lacks high-tech industries, the advanced technologies developed in the region often have no application scenarios. If the institute aims to contribute to the construction of the motherland or the Greater Bay Area, there is only one place suitable - Hengqin," said Chen Guokai, Director of Zhuhai UM Science and Technology Research Institute.

Hengqin is now home to 30 national and provincial-level science and technology innovation platforms, including the Macao-Hengqin Youth Entrepreneurship Valley and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park of Cooperation between Guangdong and Macao. These platforms provide a stage for young entrepreneurs in Macao to start their own businesses and pave the way for the growth of the region's diverse economic sectors.

Macao boasts a total of four state key laboratories. The other two are the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and the State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI.

State key laboratories in Macao promote local, national scientific, social progress

The growing strength of China-Switzerland relations has boosted bilateral trade, investment and cooperation in various sectors over the past 75 years, said Jurg Burri, the Swiss ambassador to China.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the Swiss Embassy in China has already launched related celebrations and cultural exchange activities.

In March 2024, China implemented a unilateral visa exemption policy for Switzerland to facilitate cross-border travel. The visa exemption period for the entry of Swiss nationals to China was extended at the end of last year.

As this year also marks the China-Switzerland Year of Culture and Tourism, Burri said that Switzerland wishes to welcome more Chinese tourists through efficient visa services and sustainable tourism programs.

In the ambassador's view, the bilateral relations between China and Switzerland have been fruitful.

"We have strong trade relations. China is our third trade partner in the world. We have a free trade agreement, and we have more than 1,000 Swiss companies who are here in China and contribute to the Chinese economy," he said.

In 2007, Switzerland became the first European country to recognize China's full market economy status ,and in 2013, it was the first European country to sign a free trade agreement with China, a sign of deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two nations.

Burri said that since the free trade agreement took effect in 2014, bilateral trade between the two countries has surged.

According to data from China's Ministry of Commerce, the total bilateral trade in goods between the two sides reached 62.78 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, up 5.5 percent year on year.

Currently, the two sides are in negotiations to upgrade the agreement, discussing the expansion of zero-tariff products, as well as trade in services, investment, and related regulations.

"We could still waive tariffs from a wider scope of products -- that's the one thing. This negotiation is also a very good way to keep in touch, to exchange on potential cooperation and really look at our trade relations in a holistic way," he said.

The Chinese government has continually expanded the range of industries open to foreign investment, reduced entry barriers, and optimized the business environment in recent years.

These new changes have allowed more Swiss enterprises to enter China's service market, according to the ambassador.

"Swiss companies are quite present here, as you say, and also [they include] companies in the service sector. We have also Swiss banks which are present here in China. But the strongest push I currently see [is] in pharmaceutics and in medic[al field]," he said.

Swiss ambassador hails growing ties, cooperation between China, Switzerland