Portugal and China are resuming the Joint Commission on Science and Technology, which had not met since 2019, with the aim of defining priority areas for cooperation and collaboration instruments. The meeting seeks to develop a Joint Portugal-China Action Plan for Science and Innovation, valid between 2027 and 2030.
The official visit to China, which includes stops in Tianjin, Beijing, and Shanghai, is led by the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, and the Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Helena Canhão. This initiative follows a previous visit by the Minister in June, where he agreed with his Chinese counterpart, Yin Hejun, to restart the Joint Commission.
At the end of the Joint Commission meeting, which includes the participation of the Agency for Research and Innovation (AI2), the Institute for Higher Education (IES, I.P.), and the Directorate-General for Studies, Planning, and Evaluation, a Joint Declaration will be signed, establishing the terms of bilateral cooperation until 2030.
Fernando Alexandre highlighted the growing importance of China for Portugal in advancements in Science, Technology, and Higher Education, recognizing its institutions as international leaders in various fields.
In the area of Higher Education, discussions are expected regarding an agreement for the mutual recognition of academic degrees, including the correspondence between Portuguese bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees and the Chinese Xueshi, Shuoshi, and Boshi degrees. The Minister emphasized the need to streamline this process to promote student mobility and talent circulation.
During the visit, Fernando Alexandre and Helena Canhão will visit Chinese higher education institutions and research centers, some of which already have partnerships with Portuguese universities. Representatives from Portuguese higher education and research institutions are part of the delegation to deepen cooperation and explore new collaboration opportunities.
The Minister will attend the Opening Session of the 2026 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference and will speak at the plenary session, at the invitation of China's Minister of Education, Huai Jinpeng.
