A training workshop on science, technology and innovation policy and management for sustainable development in developing countries was launched in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Monday in collaboration with the United Nations.

Fifteen government officials and experts from 13 countries, including South Africa, Thailand, India and Iran, are participating in the two-week program, jointly organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development.

They will learn about China's experience in promoting sustainable development with technology and innovation and in industrial incubation, and seek opportunities for cooperation.

"This will be extremely valuable because a lot of countries are facing many challenges in developing science and technology, especially in emerging digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things and big data," said Shamika Sirimanne, from the UNSCTD secretariat.

"This is a great experience to come to China, to Guangdong, to see how these technologies are being used in real-life situations in industries to make people's life better and in a social and environmental sense."

Participants in the workshop will visit the Guangdong cities of Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan and Jiangmen as well as Guangzhou, the provincial capital.

The event marks the first joint training program by China and the UN on technological innovation for developing countries.

China has been arranging such programs by itself since 1989. In the past five years, 246 such workshops have been held in China, involving 4,740 participants. There are 79 workshops for 1,500 participants planned for this year.