In view of their shared interests, China and the Netherlands have formally agreed on a policy framework for scientific cooperation that provides a platform for carrying out specific programmes and will lead to mutual benefits.

Policy framework

The policy framework for scientific cooperation between China and the Netherlands is defined by a series of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), concluded between the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and:

• the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST)
• the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE)
• the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) 
• the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). 

The MoUs signed in 2008 reconfirm the long history of scientific cooperation between China and the Netherlands. They ensure that such cooperation will continue through to 2011.

In 2009, the Academy, NWO and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) signed an MoU concerning the Talent and Training China-Netherlands programme.