After 40 years of development from vision to fruition, China - Germany metrology cooperation has taken root, grown up, blossomed and yielded fruits. It not only promotes the exchange of measurement technology between the two countries, but also drives and promotes the technological innovation and economic and trade exchanges between the two countries. President Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out that science and technology were global and epochal, thus science and technology must be developed from a global perspective and the pulse of the times must be grasped.
In October 1979, the General Administration of Metrology of the People's Republic of China and BMWi of Germany signed the China-Germany Metrology Technology Cooperation Agreement, which unveiled the curtain for the friendly exchanges, pragmatic cooperation and mutual development of China - Germany metrology cooperation. In the past 40 years, with the strategic improvement of relations between China and Germany, metrology cooperation has become a successful model of international metrology exchange and cooperation. After 40 years of sincere cooperation and practice, China - Germany metrology cooperation has become increasingly more mature and pragmatic.
Firstly, China - Germany metrology cooperation mechanism is continuously improved. Since 1979, China and Germany have renewed the Cooperation Agreement every five years, thus a flexible and efficient China - Germany metrology consultation and cooperation mechanism has been realized. In July 2018, the Chinese and German governments issued a joint statement on "Responsible Partners for a Better World". It was confirmed that "both parties agree to implement the agreement on metrology cooperation signed over the years between the two governments", and China - Germany metrology cooperation was raised to the government-level and included in the big picture of China - Germany relations.
Secondly, the content of China - Germany metrology cooperation is constantly enriched. In the past 40 years, nearly 500 Chinese metrological staff visited PTB for study and training, and more than 150 PTB experts visited China for lectures and exchanges. From the study of metrology standards and international comparison to SI redefinition, and from free technical assistance to mutual benefit and win-win technical cooperation, China - Germany metrology cooperation has been increasingly expanded and deepened. The mutual recognition agreement on the measuring instrument type test report signed between both parties has facilitated the trading of measuring instruments between the two countries and promoted fruitful cooperation.
Thirdly, the effectiveness of China - Germany metrology cooperation is continuously released. In the past 40 years, thanks to the help and support of metrology peers in Germany, the level of metrological technology in China has been significantly improved. Among them, PTB helped NIM establish dozens of national standards, which played an important role in improving metrological technology innovation in China. Here, on behalf of the State Administration for Market Regulation, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the German government and metrology peers for their unremitting efforts in promoting China - Germany metrology cooperation.
At the new historical starting point of comprehensive quantization revolution of metrology, China - Germany metrology cooperation has been faced with a rare historical opportunity and a broader bright future. We sincerely look forward to working hand in hand and moving forward with Germany, continue to adhere to the concept of equality, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and jointly write a new chapter in China - Germany metrology cooperation!
Xiao Yaqing
Minister of State Administration for Market Regulation of the People's Republic of China