The Bureau of International Cooperation functions as the international department of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with its main duty as follows: to formulate strategies, plans, rules and regulations for CAS international cooperation and academic exchanges; to coordinate academy-level international cooperation affairs and carry out the internationalization work of the whole academy; and to initiate and manage key cooperative programs and fellowships. It also maintains liaison with related agencies dispatched by international organizations in China, handles relevant affairs concerning S&T cooperation with the Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan Province, and exercises administrative power involving foreign affairs authorized by the State Council.