BRICS to beef up ties in science

BRICS countries will continue to strengthen multilateral exchanges and cooperation to promote science and innovation, according to a declaration signed during a ministerial meeting in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

The five member nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - agreed that innovation is one of the major driving forces for sustainable economic development, Wan Gang, China's minister of science and technology, said at a news conference on Tuesday.

"Science, technology and innovation have played crucial roles in providing jobs, promoting structural reforms and market competition and tackling global challenges," he said. "BRICS nations have to strengthen the role of science and technology, facilitate multilateral science projects and people-to-people exchanges, and build frameworks for long-term projects and cooperation."