Nobel laureate Tu Youyou sends a congratulatory letter to the China (Ningbo)-CEEC Innovation and Development Forum for Women in Science and Technology held in Ningbo on May 16. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

The China (Ningbo)-CEEC Innovation and Development Forum for Women in Science and Technology was held in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on May 16 as part of this year's China-CEEC Expo. 

The forum, entitled "Technological Innovation, Green Development", included keynote speeches, a roundtable meeting, and a photo exhibition featuring Nobel-prize winners from Central and Eastern European countries. Fifteen scientists from eight CEE countries and a group of Chinese academicians attended the event.

"It's great that we can carry out discussions on science, research, and industry," said Evelina Slavcheva, professor of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. "My field is green technologies and clean energy. I think this is a very promising field for collaboration between our countries. For instance, China is well known for the development of electric cars, and in Europe this is also a priority. "

Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, a pharmacologist from Ningbo, also sent a congratulatory letter to the forum.

"Central and Eastern European countries have a strong history and culture. The first female Nobel laureate, Marie Curie, was born there. She is a pioneer in science and I highly respect her," Tu said in her letter.