The 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum (WSTDF) will convene in Beijing from Oct. 22 to 24. As a major event in the global science community, the forum will gather scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, and other leading figures from around the world to share insights and technological solutions for sustainable development.

The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) initiated the forum in 2019 and has held five successful sessions to date. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the inaugural WSTDF, highlighting the forum's role in building consensus and deepening cooperation.

Since its inception, the forum has explored new approaches and fostered innovation, establishing itself as a world-class hub for pioneering ideas. It has created an international platform for scientific exchange and collaboration, a venue for bringing together leading talents, and a driving force for global sustainable development. These efforts have significantly contributed to advancing the Global Development Initiative and promoting the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Sci-tech innovation: The way to sustainable development

In his congratulatory letter to the first forum, President Xi stressed the role of scientific and technological innovation in addressing global challenges. He noted that the ongoing revolution in science and technology and industrial transformation significantly impacts human civilization and global governance.

"Promoting sustainable development with sci-tech innovation has become the way that we must take to solve some important global issues of common concern," Xi said.

The past five sessions of the forum have always focused on advancing sustainable development through technological innovation, covering crucial topics from basic science to climate change, the digital economy and green innovation. The forum has invited global scientific leaders to present their latest research and propose solutions to pressing challenges.

Each year, the forum releases a list of the top 10 scientific issues concerning the development of human society, evaluating major global challenges and promoting the achievement of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. The second forum introduced the World Journal Clout Index of Scientific and Technological Periodicals and included the results on the "Innovation China" platform. The third, fourth and fifth forums released the annual IUPAC Top 10 Emerging Technologies in Chemistry.

The research findings released by the forum represent the collective wisdom of the scientific community, showcasing advancements in science and technology while offering practical solutions for global challenges and sustainable development goals.

Building consensus: A platform for global exchange

Beyond technological discussions, the forum serves as a vital space for building international consensus and fostering cooperation. President Xi has highlighted China's commitment to openness and collaboration, expressing hope that the forum will help scientists, educators and entrepreneurs from different countries build consensus, exchange ideas, and deepen cooperation to contribute wisdom and strength to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The WSTDF serves as more than just a platform for scientific discussion; it is a vital opportunity for building global consensus and fostering international cooperation. Since its inception in 2019, the forum has consistently brought together Nobel laureates, leading scientists, educators, economists and entrepreneurs. Each year, it attracts about 200 distinguished participants from over 20 countries and regions, including academicians, experts, heads of major scientific organizations, prominent entrepreneurs and university presidents.

The forum facilitates communication through high-level dialogues, keynote speeches and roundtable discussions, creating valuable connections among scientists, entrepreneurs and policymakers. These exchanges encourage in-depth reflection and foster consensus on critical scientific issues. Over the past five years, the forum has drawn thousands of scientific leaders globally, publishing reports and generating influential scientific policy initiatives.

A notable example is the "Openness, Trust, and Cooperation" initiative introduced at the third forum by 260 scientific organizations, emphasizing the international scientific community's commitment to unity and collaboration. The initiative outlined concrete measures such as maintaining the legitimate boundaries of scientific openness, fostering mutual trust and respect among collaborators, and finding common ground for cooperation.

At the fourth forum, the organizers partnered with globally recognized scientific organizations to launch the initiative of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development and Discipline Development Report. It called for a renewed global focus on fundamental scientific research, deepening practical cooperation, promoting science popularization, and advancing sustainable development.

In this era of profound transformation, forming a broad consensus is crucial for leading global scientific development. The WSTDF provides a foundation for uniting global wisdom and building a better future.

Building bridges for global collaboration

The WSTDF aims to foster deeper cooperation among governments, industry, and academia, which aligns with President Xi's vision. It promotes an open, collaborative ecosystem to address global challenges.

Each forum focuses on international cooperation, promoting the sharing of global scientific resources through initiatives like establishing international scientific issues and talent databases for global cooperation.

The inaugural forum introduced an innovative model for organizing the event through a collaborative approach involving CAST, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering and internationally renowned scientific organizations. This partnership established a flagship platform facilitating cooperation between China's scientific community and the global science community.

The second forum emphasized collaboration, introducing the Innovation and Cooperation Forum of Open Science and Open Source as a parallel session. The third forum promoted discussions on global cooperation in scientific and technological innovation.

The fourth forum continued with the theme of "Openness, Trust, and Cooperation," establishing a sub-forum for collaboration between academicians and multinational companies. This initiative aimed to deepen international cooperation in fundamental research, industry partnerships and technological innovation. The fifth forum, based in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, focused on international regional cooperation, resulting in a series of high-quality recommendation reports.

After five years of progress, the WSTDF has become a key platform for global innovation and scientific collaboration. The 2024 forum, themed "Science and Technology for the Future," will focus on six key ideas: intelligence, interdisciplinary, infrastructures, innovation, interaction, and integration. It will continue gathering global wisdom to empower high-quality development and promote international scientific cooperation and innovation.

Guided by the principles of President Xi's congratulatory letter, the WSTDF remains committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind. By deepening international cooperation, building global consensus and advancing the three global initiatives — the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative — the forum aims to continue providing strong momentum for global scientific innovation, illuminating the path toward a better, more sustainable future.

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