Abstract:
In 2016, Hon. Minister Pandor of Science and Technology (DST), RSA and her Chinese
counterpart Minister of Science and Technology (MOST) signed an MoU on joint research
centers and flagship projects between South Africa and China. In 2017, two ministers of
the DST and the MOST led the initiatives on the joint research center (JRC) from both
countries. In 2018, H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa of RSA and H.E. President Jinping Xi
of PR China witnessed the roadmap of the JRC in Pretoria. In 2019, Representatives of
Chang’an University (CU), China and the University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa visited
the MOST in Beijing and reported the initiatives on co-establishing a JRC on Smart
Transport and Sustainable Infrastructure. In July 2020, both CU and UP signed an MoA on
co-establishing the JRC on Smart Transport and Sustainable Infrastructure and sent to the
authorities of the RSA and PRC. In April 2021, the task team of both U and UP attended
the official meeting on the JRC constructions hosted by Chinese Embassy to Pretoria,
South Africa and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), RSA. The JRC is
making progress under the efforts.
