Beijing — China and the United States have agreed to renew the U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement for an additional five years, China’s Ministry of Science and Technology announced on Friday. The decades-old pact, first signed in 1979 when the two nations established diplomatic relations, had lapsed on August 27.
The agreement has historically been a cornerstone of Sino-U.S. cooperation, enabling collaboration in fields such as atmospheric and agricultural sciences, physics, and chemistry. It has also played a pivotal role in fostering academic and commercial exchanges that contributed to China’s rapid growth into a technological and military powerhouse.
However, the renewal comes amid concerns in Washington over alleged intellectual property theft and the misuse of scientific collaborations by Beijing, raising questions about the pact’s future impact.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately comment on whether the renewal could help stabilize fraught bilateral ties, which have been strained over issues including trade, security, and technological competition.
Despite the challenges, the agreement’s continuation is viewed by some as a sign of willingness from both sides to maintain channels of cooperation in critical areas of science and technology.