National science academies in China and the UK published a joint statement for further cooperation on Friday. Royal Society President Paul Nurse visited Beijing in September.

To encourage Chinese and Britain scientists to strengthen their cooperation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society took the occasion as an opportunity to publish the statement.

As scientific nations, committed to fostering world leading research, China and the UK are ideally placed to collaborate closely on scientific issues, to share ideas, skills, resources and practices — and to both work together and learn from each other in applying knowledge-based innovations to our economies and societies, the statement said.

The world is facing challenges such as a growing population, energy exhaustion and pollution, for which science may provide solutions, so there is a need to increase China-UK cooperation.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences and Royal Society have already experienced 30 years of cooperation. CAS President Bai Chunli said both sides had benefited from the cooperation, so CAS was willing for more comprehensive communication and cooperation at a higher level.