A new international science organization made its debut on Sunday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Conference on Science Literacy in Beijing.

The World Organization for Science Literacy, which was registered in Beijing in June, aims to provide a global platform for science outreach and guide intelligent societies toward beneficial development. It has 32 founding members from 21 countries across Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and Oceania.

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that China is simultaneously advancing scientific innovation and science popularization.

Li said the country has revised the Science and Technology Popularization Law, launched a national campaign to improve public science literacy, strengthened its science outreach capabilities and promoted the integration of science and culture.

The launch of the WOSL, Li added, demonstrates fruitful organizational and operational achievements and takes global science literacy development and cooperation to a new stage.

Wu Xiangping, president of the organization, pointed out the uneven levels of science literacy worldwide, highlighting persistent gaps across regions, genders and communities.

"Barriers to knowledge sharing continue to exist, and the benefits of science have yet to reach everyone," he said, adding that the organization will pool global wisdom to narrow science literacy gaps, contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Wu also noted the significant opportunities and governance challenges brought about by accelerated innovation in artificial intelligence, adding that experts from around the world can use the new organization as a platform to explore ways to boost public science literacy and bridge the digital divide.

Shahbaz Khan, director and representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, echoed Wu's views, underscoring that "artificial intelligence governance must prioritize human rights, fairness and transparency".

"We must urgently address the global science literacy gap. An intelligent society must not become an unequal one," Khan said, noting that platforms such as the organization play a critical role in ensuring that no community is left behind.

"This aligns with China's policy for shared prosperity and people-to-people exchanges," he added.

The creation of the organization comes as China continues to expand its science outreach at home and abroad.

The country's science literacy rate reached 16.74 percent in 2025, up from 10.56 percent in 2020, according to a survey conducted by the China Association for Science and Technology. The survey was carried out under China's citizen scientific literacy assessment system.

China has also continued to share its science outreach experience and achievements with other nations through initiatives such as organizing international tours of mobile science museums and the promotion of science and technology backyards — science and technology support bases established in rural or agricultural areas — in Global South countries.