The UK’s science minister Patrick Vallance has affirmed the importance of having a “stable, consistent and mutually beneficial relationship with China” during a visit to Beijing to agree “targeted opportunities” for research collaboration.

With diplomatic ties between the two countries strained over an  and claims of Chinese political interference on UK campuses, the former chief scientific adviser turned minister used his trip to Beijing to underline the mutual benefits of continued research collaboration.

Speaking at the start of the UK-China Joint Commission on Science and Technology on 11 November, Vallance said he was keen to explore how the two countries could deepen research ties in four priority areas – environmental science, planetary science and astronomy, agriculture, and health research.

“The UK wants a stable, consistent and mutually beneficial relationship with China – where we can be frank about where we disagree, support and uphold academic freedom but also find targeted opportunities to work together that are in both our interests,” said Vallance.

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“Harnessing the vast potential for our scientists and researchers to make joint breakthroughs in global health, clean energy and more is something that UK, China, and the world stand to benefit from,” he added, stating that “we can achieve more when we work with others”.

His call for greater research collaboration with China comes amid growing concerns over the threats of intellectual property theft posed by Chinese researchers working within UK universities, which has led to a suite of legislative measures to address security risks. These include the Academic Technology Approvals Scheme, export controls and the National Security and Investment Act.

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Academic freedom concerns have also been raised recently over efforts by Chinese government officials to shut down research on controversial topics using intimidation and harassment. Chinese students have also been accused of passing secretly recorded comments made by classmates at UK universities to intelligence officials.

However, UK and Chinese researchers continue to cooperate on a number of research topics that will be discussed by leaders from the UK and China’s research sectors at the Sino-British summit, which includes a delegation of university leaders, representatives from the UK’s national academics and UK Research and Innovation officials.

After the meeting with Chinese politicians, academics and business leaders, the British delegation will visit Tsinghua University’s Institute for Carbon Neutrality, one of China’s leading decarbonisation research institutes. Vallance will also visit the UK-China Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage in Centre in Guangzhou in southern China.

Stressing the need to establish a “consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing our science relations with China, grounded in the UK’s national interests”, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said the minister would continue to challenge China on areas of disagreement on topics.

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These would include China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, the continued erosion of protected rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, including the case of imprisoned British national Jimmy Lai, and cases of interference in the UK’s democratic system, it said.

He will also raise concerns over China’s approach to data, intellectual property and technology transfer, and make clear that the UK will never tolerate attempts by foreign states to suppress freedom of speech or academic freedom, DSIT added.

Underlining the importance of protecting free speech and national security, Vallance said: “While we will never compromise our values and national security, we have to be open to all opportunities to improve people’s lives and grow our economy.”

“That can come through cautious, sensible and informed international science cooperation,” he added.

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jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com