President Xi Jinping called on Monday for building stronger scientific and technological innovation partnerships to contribute to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road.

Xi made the remarks in a congratulatory letter sent to the first Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange, which opened on Monday in Chongqing.

In his letter, Xi said that the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was successfully held, ushering in a new stage of high-quality development for the Belt and Road, of which scientific and technological cooperation is an important part.

China will carry forward the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, fully implement the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, and advance international sci-tech innovation exchanges, he said.

He underscored that China is willing to work with other countries to tap the potential for innovative development, unleash the potential of innovation cooperation, strengthen innovation partnerships, and promote innovation achievements to benefit people from all countries, thereby making contributions to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Themed "Together for Innovation, Development for All," the conference was co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the China Association for Science and Technology, Chongqing Municipal People's Government and Sichuan Provincial People's Government.