The Sino-French Association for Scientific and Technological Research in northwest China's Shaanxi Province was recently established in Xi'an, capital of the province.

The association, the first non-governmental scientific exchange organization between the two countries, aims to strengthen cooperation between Chinese and French scientists and promote the commercialization of scientific research results.

Shaanxi Province has over 100 colleges, universities and research institutes and 820,000 technical personnel producing more than 2,000 scientific research results annually.

Speaking at the opening ceremony held earlier this month, French ambassador Pierre Morel said the establishment of the association shows that scientific cooperation between Shaanxi province and France has entered "a new phase."

The association will hold regular scientific seminars and launch cooperation programs for government and non-governmental institutes to exchange science information and offer consultations. The association has 31 team members including major science and technology universities and research institutes in Shaanxi. It also hired eight consultants, six of who are academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Academy of Engineering Sciences. (Xinhua)