"Inroads have been made in cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The first batch of research funds have been allocated," said Wan Gang, the minister at a State Council Information Office press conference.

More than 280 Chinese were executive members of international science and technology organizations last year, nearly 70 percent more than 2016, according to the China Association for Science and Technology. Around half of them have been, or will become, president or vice-president of the organizations concerned.

Sci-tech diplomacy is an important part of the national diplomatic strategy, highlighted by sci-tech innovation cooperation at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, G20 Hangzhou Summit, and BRICS Xiamen Summit, Wan said.