On the evening of April 13th, the eve of the 17th Conference on International Exchange of Professionals (CIEP), Wang Zhigang, Minister of Science and Technology, Wang Weizhong, Deputy Secretary of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Secretary of CPC Shenzhen Committee, Zhang Jianguo, Vice-Minister of Science and Technology and Director of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, and other officials met with Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and guests of Pitch@Palace. They held a meeting and had discussion.

Wang Zhigang congratulated Prince Andrew’s team and Pitch@Palace for their advancements and achievements in the cooperation with China. He said that the final of the 3rd Pitch@Palace China would be kicked off in Shenzhen, which was both a good result and a new beginning. Through the competition, China and the UK can strengthen exchanges and cooperation more, and can use this as a platform to attract more scientific and technological personnel, innovators, and entrepreneurs from China and the UK to participate in it, so that Sino-British cooperation will be smoother. On May 29th last year, when meeting with Prince Andrew, President Xi Jinping emphasized that Sino-British cooperation in scientific and technological innovation was conducive to achieving mutual benefit and win-win results, injecting more new connotations into the “Golden Age” of bilateral relations. He had great expectations on Pitch@Palace China. He hoped that Pitch@Palace could be able to grasp China’s opportunities in economy, reform, and opening up, and the overall situation and general trend of bilateral relations, continuously enrich the content of cooperation, and make the competition an important platform for Sino-British cooperation in science and technology innovation. The Ministry of Science and Technology of China has implemented the important instructions of President Xi Jinping and will actively support Pitch@Palace to settle in China. It also hopes that Pitch@Palace will develop well all over the world. The development of human society is driven by many factors, and the most important one is the development of science and technology. The Ministry of Science and Technology of China and Pitch@Palace are making efforts to promote the development of science and technology. It is hoped that the two parties can achieve the continuation of the “Golden Age” of Sino-British relations through cooperation and the sustainable development of human society.

Prince Andrew expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Science and Technology of China for its strong support for Pitch@Palace, especially Pitch@Palace China. He said that the work of Pitch@Palace in many countries around the world was consistent not only with the global strategy of Pitch@Palace and the global positioning and stance of the UK, but also with the “Belt and Road” initiative of China. Pitch@Palace China was for “in China, for China, and working with China”. He believed that with the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Pitch@Palace would be more successful in China. Pitch@Palace could also contribute to the building of a community of shared future for mankind and the well-being and progress of human through the cooperation with China.

Pitch@Palace is a global entrepreneurial incubator platform founded by Prince Andrew in 2014. Since its launching, Pitch@Palace has supported 1958 start-ups around the world and helped to establish nearly 13,000 effective value links. Many of its entrepreneurial projects have been successfully acquired by internationally renowned companies such as Apple and Twitter. All of its projects have accumulated more than 885 million pounds of investment. By now, Pitch@Palace has held competitions in 17 divisions, including Malaysia, Africa, Estonia, Latin America, China, Australia, United Arab Emirates, and Singapore. A total of 61 countries and regions have participated in its innovation projects. It enjoys a high reputation in innovation and entrepreneurship around the world.

In order to achieve pragmatic results in the “Golden Age” of Sino-British relations, the conference will hold the launching ceremony of the final of Pitch@Palace China and related activities, and organize British expert organizations, scientific research institutions, universities, vocational training institutions, and high-tech companies, and a group of senior experts and scholars studying in the UK to participate in the exhibition. Prince Andrew will also be invited to attend the launching ceremony and deliver a address.