The opening ceremony and plenary session of the Third Conference of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (ISTIF) of the Boao Forum for Asia took place in Zhuhai city on Sept 20.

It attracted over 1,000 delegates, including government officials, representatives of international organizations, diplomats, experts, and academics from over 20 countries and regions.

The three-day ISTIF of the Boao Forum for Asia featured 12 parallel sessions. More than 80 speakers delved into cutting-edge topics - such as fintech, intelligent manufacturing, artificial intelligence, low-carbon environmental protection, biomedicines, intelligent materials, and marine technology.

Opening ceremony takes place in Zhuhai. [Photo by Cheng Lin / Guanhai App]

In addition, the conference has organized activities including keynote speeches by leading experts in frontier technologies, networking receptions, and visits to science and technology innovation enterprises.

The forum, an international-themed event created by the Boao Forum for Asia with a focus on the global innovation revolution and industrial transformation, has successfully conducted two previous sessions - in 2020 and 2022. 

It has attracted extensive participation and attention from all sectors, establishing itself as a comprehensive international exchange platform in the field of technological innovation.

Moreover, it is widely acknowledged to have played a positive role in strengthening international innovation cooperation, promoting the commercialization of development ideas, bolstering institutional and mechanism innovation, and advancing global green and sustainable development.

Li Baodong, secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia, noted that the third conference would continue to serve as an international platform, fostering collaboration among governments, businesses, academics, and the research sectors of various countries.

He said it would also promote green and sustainable global economic development through international cooperation in technological innovation.

Esko Aho, former Prime Minister of Finland, emphasized at the event that the integration of globalization and technological innovation had become the fundamental driving force for global growth. With the changing global situation, there was an even greater need to promote global scientific and technological cooperation.

The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is the co-host of this year's forum.

Liang Weite, executive chairman of ISTIF, revealed during the conference that an International Frontier Technology Exhibition Hall for the event will be unveiled in Hengqin.

Liang emphasized the strategic utilization of the Boao forum's international platform to further promote international exchanges and cooperation in the Cooperation Zone.

He added that the selection of Zhuhai as the conference venue would facilitate greater and broader participation from cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

It would thereby continue to serve as a comprehensive platform for high-end dialogues among governments, businesses, and academia in the realm of technological innovation.

Furthermore, it would also comprehensively integrate and optimize global innovation resources, thereby making a continued contribution to the high-quality development and innovation of the Greater Bay Area.