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Opening of the German-Chinese Year of Science and Education. Federal Education Minister Prof. Annette Schavan, her Chinese counterpart Wan Gang, and Deputy Minister of Education Chen Xiaoya joined together at the end of March to give the go-ahead for more intensive cooperation between German and Chinese universities with a ceremonious opening of the "German-Chinese Year of Research and Education 2009/2010". The year will focus above all on university cooperation, vocational education and training, and top-flight research. Minister Schavan confirmed that China is an important partner for Germany in the field of science and research. A whole range of events in Germany and China aim to help fill the year's key areas with energy and life. The FU Berlin is following up the launch in March by organising a meeting between German universities and representatives of excellent Chinese universities. They aim to find new partners for further cooperation and collaboration. This is also where the preparations are being made for the "China Weeks" to be held at Germany's universities in 2010. Joint research and development projects are to be launched in future fields such as climate, energy and health research in order to improve long-term structural cooperation between Germany and China. Plans have also been made to expand the range of German-Chinese degree programmes that lead to double degrees. Late June will then see the Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting held with the participation of Chinese guests. While in China, exhibitions and events are also being organised in Shenyang in June 2009 and Wuhan in October 2009 as part of the series of activities run in connection with "Germany and China – Moving Together".

Further information: http://www.deutsch-chinesisches-jahr-2009-2010.de/