Notice

Joint statement from the 11th UK and China Joint Commission Meeting

Published 11 November 2025

The 11th UK-China Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) on science and technology (S&T) was held in Beijing, China on 11 November 2025.

The JCM is a longstanding forum between the UK and China to review priorities for scientific research collaboration. It was co-chaired by China’s Vice-Minister for Science and Technology Chen Jiachang and the UK’s Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Lord Vallance, accompanied by representatives of the UK and Chinese governments and research sectors.

Both sides recognised that international collaboration, particularly between world-leading science nations such as the UK and China, is key to solving the greatest global challenges – from adapting to and tackling climate change, to tackling the impacts of ageing populations. Both sides also recognised the value of joint scientific research and innovation to transform lives and generate economic growth.

The JCM convened to review the outcomes of scientific cooperation between the UK and China, and set priorities for future research collaboration in areas of mutual benefit that address global challenges, and that respect both countries national interests. Both sides agreed that research should be secure and reciprocal, with research outcomes shared among partners, and compliant with the relevant laws and regulations governing intellectual property and data management in respective countries. In accordance with the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue both sides agree to better utilise the existing channels to discuss how both sides manage the national security implications of our R&D and economic links. Both sides agreed that all joint UK-China research and its outcomes must meet our respective domestic legislative requirements and international obligations.

Ahead of the JCM, both sides participated in workshops in October 2025 to discuss research data and intellectual property; climate research; and health.

• On data and intellectual property, both sides clarified the relevant domestic laws and regulations on managing data and intellectual property that must be adhered to in UK-China scientific collaborations.
• On climate research, the 2 sides approved to work together particularly in the fields of sustainable cities and the climate/health nexus.
• On health, the progress and outcomes of previous UK-China joint research calls on One Health research for epidemic preparedness and antimicrobial resistance and Healthy Ageing were presented.

At the JCM, Ministers Chen and Vallance explored the possibility of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology working with the Ministry of Science and Technology to support a UK-China ‘Flagship Challenge’ call to support climate research. Both sides expressed support for the long-standing research collaboration between UKRI and China’s National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC).

Both approved that going forward UK-China joint research should focus on shared priorities in subsectors of:

• climate change and environment
• planetary sciences and astronomy
• health
• agriculture and food research

However, both sides noted that within these areas there will be sub-sectors out of scope for government support due to each countries’ national security and legislative requirements. Both sides agreed there was significant opportunity for positive collaboration in the above-mentioned areas and looked forward to making progress in the coming period. Vice Minister Chen Jiachang and Lord Vallance committed to continuing discussions and exploring cooperation and policy exchange through the S&T working group ahead of the next JCM.

For the avoidance of doubt, this document does not create any rights or obligations under either international or domestic law.