Science and technology for sustainable development will be the focus of a new agreement between Chinese and German scientists.

China's Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang and Germany's Education and Research Minister Annette Schavan signed the agreement yesterday to mark the 30th anniversary of the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the countries.

The 1978 pact was signed in Bonn, Germany and "opened a new chapter in Sino-German science and technology cooperation and communication," Wan said.

"Climate change, energy and the environment have become hot issues for cooperation."

Schavan said energy technology and climate change "are the priorities of research today because no country can deal with the problems by themselves".

Chinese and German businesses, governments and scientists have launched joint programs to build a clean development mechanism (CDM).

Following talks in November between China's Ministry of Science and Technology and Germany's Industry and Commerce, German technology companies have been given entry to the Chinese market for CDM construction and provided with all necessary information.

In preparation for the Beijing Olympics, the two countries have been developing a transport information system to deal with traffic jams in the Chinese capital, a public information system to smooth the flow of information during the Games and a water recycling system for venues.

(China Daily April 16, 2008)