The 5th World Science and Technology Development Forum was held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province on November 24, 2023.

Wan Gang, president of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), and Meng Fanli, deputy secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and secretary of the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee, attended the main forum and delivered speeches respectively.

Mustafa Shehu, president of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), and Shahbaz Khan, director of the UNESCO Office in Beijing, delivered video speeches respectively.

The keynote speech session was presided over by Meng Qinghai, full-time vice president and secretary of the Secretariat of CAST.

Wan Gang said in his speech that peace and development carried the people's longing for a better life and are also the eternal theme of human society.

Looking towards the future, countries around the world need to strengthen technological openness and cooperation, jointly explore ways to solve important global problems, and respond to the challenges of the times, continued Wan. 

Wan called on global sci-tech communities to learn from each other, and jointly discuss cutting-edge technologies and new issues and build new model of sci-tech governance to shape the future.

Continuing the theme of "openness, trust and cooperation", this year’s forum was held for the first time in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

With the annual theme of "Enabling the development of science and technology, and planning the future of the Great Bay Area", Thomas J. Sargent, Nobel laureate in economics, Thomas Suedhof, Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, Bai Chunli, president of the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) in the Belt and Road Region, Ling Wen, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and president of the Shandong Association for Science and Technology (SAST), shared thoughtful ideas on topics including global innovation, BRI sci-tech cooperation, drug development and green transformation of energy.

The keynote speech session was presided over by Chen Qingquan, academician of the CAE and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE).

Yang Xueming, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), vice president of Southern University of Science and Technology and director of Shenzhen Free Electron Laser Project, Zhao Zhentang, academician of the CAE and director of the Research Center for Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Feng Donglai, academician of the CAS and director of the National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) in Hefei, Song Yonghua, academician of the RAE and president of the University of Macau, as well as other well-known leaders of large-scale scientific facilities, conducted in-depth discussion focusing on the construction of large-scale scientific facilities and international sci-tech cooperation,

The forum also released top 10 emerging technologies in the fields of chemistry and future industrial development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The Forum was co-sponsored by CAST, the CAS, the People's Government of Guangdong Province and the People's Government of Shenzhen Municipality, and received strong support by more than 10 international and national organizations, including the International Science Council (ISC) and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO).

The forum had lasted to November 26, with 11 parallel forums set up, including the World Digital Economy Forum, Intelligent Manufacturing and Innovation Development Forum, and Biomedical and Life Health Development Forum.

More than 200 well-known domestic and foreign experts and scholars from 21 countries and regions around the world exchanged ideas on topics including digital economy, green innovation, intelligent manufacturing, and international cooperation in large scientific devices.

Tag: Department of Sci-tech Innovation of CAST, International Conference