December 17, 2015, a number of important agreements and protocols on cooperation between Russia and China in the fields of science, industry and trade were signed in Beijing during the 20th Regular Meeting of Prime Ministers of Russia and China.

On behalf of JINR G.V.Trubnikov, JINR Vice-Director, RAS Corresponding Member signed a Quadripartite Protocol between the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research on the prospects of cooperation in the frames of the complex of superconducting rings with colliding beams of heavy ions NICA.

First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation N.V.Tretyak signed the protocol on the part of the RF Ministry of Education and Science. The protocol was signed in the presence of Russian Prime Minister D.A.Medvedev and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

This is a very important step in relations between JINR and China, the preparations for the signing of that agreement lasted for 2 years as directed by the instructions of governments of Russia, China and the JINR Committee of Plenipotentiaries.

The protocol was signed with the aim of uniting the efforts of the parties in the frames of cooperation for establishment and use of the NICA complex. China considers joining the project and notes a wide interest of Chinese research organizations to participate in the project.

According to the thesis of the Protocol, Ministries of the two countries inform their governments about the prospects for cooperation on the NICA project, and undertake to assist in preparation and signing of the relevant agreement defining the format of participation of the countries in the NICA mega-project.

Video: China is in the NICA project. Published: 25 December 2015