Brussels, 22/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Monday in Brussels, Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Chinese Science and Technology Minister Xu Guanhua signed a "co-operation agreement" in the field of material sciences in the framework of the scientific cooperation agreement that came into force on 14 December 2000. It will facilitate the participation of Chinese research bodies (including companies) in European research projects with Chinese funding. It also aims to promote European participation in Chinese material sciences projects; support training; other information activities (conferences and workshops); exchanging scientific and technological information on material sciences, which are key to developing the next generation of projects and production processes in the next few decades and are one of the priority areas outlined in the EU's draft 6th Framework Research Programme (FP6) that is currently being assessed by the European Parliament.