On July 8, 2024, during the Chinese Materials Conference 2024 and the 2nd World Materials Conference, the Chinese Materials Research Society (C-MRS) and the Materials Research Society of Japan (MRS-J) successfully held a bilateral meeting. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on various cooperation topics and reached a series of consensuses, laying a solid foundation for future collaboration.

The meeting was attended by C-MRS President Li Yuanyuan, Supervisor Li Guangxian, Vice Presidents Zhu Min and Chen Yanan, and MRS-J President Yuzo Shigesato, Vice President Nobuhiro Matsushita, Board Members Masato Yoshiya, Takaya Kubo, Nobuto Oka, and International Committee Member Junjun Jia.

The meeting began with a detailed discussion on the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two societies. The MRS-J Board expressed strong support for cooperation with C-MRS and jointly drafted the MoU. The MoU includes plans for co-hosting bilateral academic conferences every one to two years with themes decided in advance, and inviting society members to participate in key conferences hosted by either side as keynote speakers and co-chairs. A bilateral liaison working group will be established, meeting annually to discuss cooperation matters and maintain timely communication. The MRS-J leadership also indicated that the MoU signing date would be discussed at their board meeting in December 2024.

Regarding conference cooperation, the two societies had in-depth discussions about collaborating on the 3rd World Materials Conference hosted by C-MRS and MRM2025 hosted by MRS-J. MRS-J expressed strong support for co-organizing the 3rd World Materials Conference and has already begun organizing the implementation plan.

Additionally, the two societies discussed matters related to the International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS). As a founding member of IUMRS, C-MRS has always adhered to the principles of fairness, openness, and democracy, actively participating in the union’s development and promoting the integration of Chinese materials science with global materials science. MRS-J appreciated these efforts and expressed willingness to collaborate with C-MRS to contribute to global materials science.

The successful convening of this meeting marks a solid step forward in the cooperation between C-MRS and MRS-J. Both parties will adhere to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, jointly advancing the field of materials science and contributing more to the progress and prosperity of humanity.