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The European Commission has signed a cooperation agreement on science and technology with the Republic of China that will allow Chinese scientists to participate in its fifth Framework programme of research, which was approved by the European Council of Ministers late last month.

The agreement gives European scientists the reciprocal right to participate in Chinese research programmes. The agreement involves no exchange of money — scientists on both sides will have to pay their own way but will have access to common results.

This is the first time the commission has signed such an agreement with a developing economy, but it will not be the last. Negotiations are continuing with Argentina and India, and informal discussions are taking place with other countries.

The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) last year set up the European Biotechnology Node for Interactions with China (http://www.ebnic.org) to help build contacts between European and Chinese scientists, and promote their participation in the Framework programme.

Frank Gannon, executive director of EMBO, explains: “The challenge to European scientists to find their way to the fifth Framework programme is enormous. The challenge to our colleagues in China is nearly unimaginable.”