On January 10, 2025, NSFC Vice President Wang Xiqin met with President Gerald HAUG of the German National Academy of Sciences and his delegation.

Vice President Wang Xiqin first conveyed the greetings from President Dou Xiankang and introduced the latest reform and development of NSFC against the backdrop of China's new round of scientific and technological system reform. He emphasized that NSFC attached great importance to cooperation with Germany, noting the fruitful cooperation with the German Research Foundation (DFG) over the years in areas such as project funding, policy discussions, and personnel exchanges. The German National Academy of Sciences is a vital scientific institution that represents the voice of the German scientific community globally, provides science-based advice to policymakers and the public, and promotes science and technology diplomacy and the cultivation of young talent. NSFC is willing to collaborate with the German National Academy of Sciences, under the guidance of the Sino-German Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, to promote Sino-German exchanges in basic sciences and talent cultivation. At the same time, it is proposed that the two sides could strengthen cooperation in scientific and technological policies through forms such as holding high-level think tank dialogues.

President Haug commended China's achievements in scientific and technological development and the reforms implemented by NSFC. He expressed willingness to deepen exchanges and cooperation with NSFC to provide intellectual support to address global challenges and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Director General Fan Yingjie of the Bureau of International Cooperation presided over the meeting and introduced the international cooperation carried out by NSFC. Yao Yupeng, Executive Deputy Director of the Department of Earth Sciences and Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Planning and Policy introduced the relevant plans of NSFC for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Attendees included Professor Katharina KOHSE of Bielefeld University, an academician of the German National Academy of Sciences, Ruth NARMANN, Director of the Department of International Relations of the German National Academy of Sciences, Daniela EHLBECK, Scientific and Technological Counselor of the German Embassy in China, and relevant personnel from the European Affairs Division of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the NSFC.