[Studying the Spirit of the 11th National Congress of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST)]
In July of this year, the National Science and Technology Awards Conference, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE)’s Academician Conferences, and the 11th National Congress of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) were held in Beijing. President Xi Jinping attended and delivered an important speech that thoroughly reviewed China’s achievements in science and technology, analyzed the current global situation, articulated strategic tasks, and outlined clear expectations for CAST’s mission. This provided critical guidance for advancing science and technology efforts in the new era and new journey.
In this dialogue, we speak with Jiao Chao, a specially invited overseas delegate at the 11th National Congress of CAST, to explore how to promote Sino-foreign scientific and technological exchanges and contribute to the country through collaborative innovation.
Introduction to Jiao Chao
Jiao Chao, an invited overseas delegate at the 11th National Congress of CAST, serves as the president of the China-CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) Science and Technology Exchange Association (CEECSTEA). He has dedicated himself to fostering science, education, talent, and industrial exchanges and collaboration between China, Hungary, and Central and Eastern European countries.
Arriving in Budapest
Jiao Chao’s story began in 2015, when he left Shandong, China, and arrived in Hungary.
Hungary, the first European country to sign an intergovernmental cooperation agreement under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is situated at the heart of Europe. It serves as a critical gateway for Chinese companies to access the European market. With the establishment of the China-Europe freight train service directly connecting to Budapest, cross-border logistics costs between China and Europe have been significantly reduced.
Jiao recognized an enormous opportunity: both China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) demonstrated a strong desire for collaboration but lacked a stable, long-term, and professional platform for grassroots-level scientific and technological exchanges.
In 2017, Jiao, together with partners from more than ten countries including Slovenia, Poland, and Belarus, co-founded the China-CEE Science and Technology Exchange Association (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”).
“From that moment on, I defined my mission as a new overseas Chinese – to serve as a bridge for grassroots communication and cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe,” he said.
Jiao Chao was awarded the honorary citizenship of Kozármisleny, Hungary.
In the nine years since then, the bridge Jiao envisioned has steadily widened. The Association has assisted 52 overseas tech companies to enter the Chinese market and supported 16 Chinese companies in expanding their presence abroad. It has facilitated the exchange and collaboration of more than 80 cross-border projects in talent development and scientific innovation. The collaboration encompasses diverse fields such as new energy, new materials, biomedicine, intelligent manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and agricultural technology.
Breaking Global Barriers with Technology
One success story that Jiao often shares is that of the Hungarian scientist Viktor Pop.
As the global growth of the electric vehicle and energy storage industries accelerates, the challenge of lithium battery fire safety has become a worldwide concern. Viktor developed a liquid fire-extinguishing agent tailored to address this specific issue. The Association facilitated his connection with China, and the project eventually landed in Shandong, where it successfully achieved industrialization.
“International scientific and technological cooperation only creates value when it tackles real-world industrial challenges,” Jiao stated.
Another source of pride for Jiao is witnessing the success of Chinese enterprises expanding overseas. Sixteen Chinese enterprises have tapped into European markets by leveraging the Association’s platform. Jiao noted, “The biggest obstacle for businesses going overseas isn’t their products but the lack of platforms that understand local markets and can provide comprehensive long-term services.”
In late 2024, the Association marked another milestone when it became one of the overseas Chinese scientific organizations authorized to set up a representative office in China. The Tianjin representative office was formally approved.
Additionally, the Association established a domestic physical base, the “Hungarian House,” with its first site in Jinan, Shandong. This platform has already attracted over 20 Hungarian enterprises to register and settle there. Former Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Medgyessy personally visited the center and highly praised the platform’s value.
“This model – having overseas bases, domestic windows, project platforms, and collaborative mechanisms – is taking shape,” Jiao explained.
Jiao Chao visits Péter Medgyessy, former Prime Minister of Hungary and Honorary President of the China-Central and Eastern Europe Science and Technology Exchange Association.
Youth-Driven Innovation, A Future We Share
In 2025, the “the Global Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition ,” themed “Youth-Driven Innovation, A Future We Share,” attracted 359 projects from 27 countries and regions. The competition has become a signature event organized or co-organized by the Association over the years.
“Young talent in science and technology doesn’t just need one-time competitions; they need sustained platforms for growth. They don’t merely need financial rewards; they need real opportunities for development. They don’t only need short-term exchanges but long-term cooperation,” Jiao emphasized.
The Association focuses not just on hosting competitions but also on post-event follow-up services. Its “Competition + Platform + Industry + Capital” service model connects outstanding projects with Chinese universities, research institutions, innovation parks, investment agencies, and local governments, transforming “competition projects” into “industrial projects.” Simultaneously, the Association actively collaborates with CAST’s “Haizhi” (Overseas Talent Introduction Program) initiative by organizing exchanges for young overseas scientific talent in China and recommending promising youth for summer programs like CAST’s Haizhi Young Science and Technology Volunteer Service Summer Camp.
From “Building Platforms” to “Constructing Ecosystems”
After participating in the 11th National Congress of CAST, Jiao gained a clearer vision for the Association’s future.
Over the past nine years, the Association has focused on building platforms. This time, however, the conference clarified that future development must advance from mere platform-building to constructing comprehensive ecosystems. These ecosystems should go beyond occasional exchange activities, creating sustainable systems of organizational structures, cooperative mechanisms, physical platforms, youth training, achievement transformation, and enterprise services.
Jiao stated, “The value of overseas Chinese science and technology organizations lies not in their size but in whether they truly fulfill their role as bridges and links. We must introduce excellent innovation resources from Central and Eastern Europe to China. At the same time, we must help bring China’s scientific and technological achievements to the world. Our mission is to serve both the nation’s strategy and the development of enterprises, to promote not only technological cooperation but also youth exchanges and people-to-people bonds.”
“The Bridge That Connects”
When asked if he ever feels exhausted after so many years of effort, Jiao replied with a smile, “Of course I get tired. But every time I see a successful collaboration, a young person grow, a business expand, or a technological achievement serve society, I feel that all the effort is worthwhile.”
“The value of a bridge doesn’t lie in the bridge itself but in its ability to connect,” he said. “One end connects China; the other connects Central and Eastern Europe. One end connects science and technology; the other connects industries. One end connects today; the other connects the future.”
Editor’s Note
In this interview, we prepared more than a dozen questions. Jiao came well-prepared and provided written responses totaling over 10,000 words.
His replies were meticulous and well-organized, with every initiative, dataset, and step of future plans clearly laid out. It was evident that he approaches his work with precision and dedication.
Jiao once worked in vocational education, and over the past nine years in Hungary, he has gradually built industry parks, established the Tianjin representative office, and hosted annual Global Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. He has meaningfully connected China with Central and Eastern Europe’s scientific and technological resources.
Between the lines of his responses, what stood out most was his deep sense of responsibility—an overseas Chinese citizen with a heartfelt commitment to the development of China’s science and technology. His approach is both humble and inspiring, a true testament to the value of grassroots contributions in fostering international collaboration.
—Written by Liu Yanshun, China Association for Science and Technology Voice Editorial Team
Source: China Association for Science and Technology Voice WeChat Official Account