British Prime Minister Theresa May sent a congratulatory letter to the Opening of Pujiang Innovation Forum on September 24, 2016. In the letter, Prime Minister May expressed her delight that the UK had been invited to attend this year's Pujiang Innovation Forum as the Country of Honour. She said that the UK and China already collaborate closely in such areas as life sciences, big data and advanced materials, and that during this 'Golden Era' of UK-China relations, we are eager to develop opportunities to work even more closely, particularly in the areas of research and innovation.

As the Country of Honour of this year's Pujiang Innovation Forum, Britain sent a strong delegation of innovation experts, academics and business people, led by Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research & Innovation Jo Johnson MP and Chief Scientific Advisor to the British Government Sir Mark Walport.

Initiated in 2008, the Pujiang Innovation Forum is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and Shanghai Municipal Government. The forum aims to promote innovation with a global vision and build a platform for communication of innovation and development, dissemination of advanced ideas, contention of academic thoughts, interaction among government departments, enterprises, universities and research institutes, and release of new policies. It has become an influential high-level international forum.

Mr. Sunan Jiang, Minister Counsellor on Science and Technology from Chinese Embassy in the UK, attended the Forum.