Officials, experts agree intl cooperation on innovation is the way ahead

Government officials and industry experts were united in their calls for high-quality development, based on international cooperation in innovation, at the recent 2018 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing.

With the theme of "Global Innovation and High-quality Development", the two-day event opened on Friday, attracting dignitaries, senior executives and experts from 13 countries and regions including the United States, Germany and Britain.

Yin Yong, vice-mayor of Beijing, told the forum that innovation is the key driving force for development and is a common topic and trend in today's world.

"Global technological innovation has entered an unprecedented period and a new round of technological and industrial revolution is on its way," Yin said.

Major countries and regions in the world are paying a great deal of attention to technological development, he said.

"This year marks the 30th anniversary of Zhongguancun Science Park, which has become a name card for innovation," he said, adding that Beijing and the park should continue promoting high-quality development with a global vision.

Lei Jun, founder and CEO of smartphone maker Xiaomi, said Zhongguancun is the most dynamic area for innovation and entrepreneurship in China, comparable to Silicon Valley in the United States.

He suggested that companies in the park provide financial support to business startups to encourage the creation of more technological breakthroughs.

"Chinese enterprises should have a stronger sense of responsibility to develop in the overseas market and to attract more consumers to enjoy the benefits of China's technology," he said.

Peter Bonfield, chairman of NXP Semiconductors, a Dutch chipmaker, said that the world is facing great uncertainty with increasing trade friction and rising protectionism.

"Innovation and global cooperation can help overcome those challenges," he said.

Multinational corporations play an important role in driving and supporting innovation, Bonfield said.

"We must protect innovation to ensure all enjoy the benefits. Technology and science should be able to operate transnational for the good of everyone."

Shi Yigong, a structural biophysicist and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that sophisticated science and technology is driving the engine of economic development.

"We cannot sustain innovative economic development without research on cutting-edge science and the innovation of major core technologies," Shi said.

Guo Yike, head of the Data Science Institute of Imperial College London, said that China is one of the major regions for the development of artificial intelligence in the world.

AI has helped with breakthroughs in machine learning and the application of AI in various fields contributes to economic growth, he said.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done in AI research, including the development of key technologies and cross-sector cooperation, he added.

During the event, the park and the UK Department for International Trade signed an agreement to build a platform for cooperation between China and Britain in the technology sector.

"The world around us is changing faster than ever before," said Richard Burn, UK trade commissioner for China. "It's down to the incredible potential of new technologies, especially AI, which are constantly learning and getting better every single day."

"Beijing's innovation environment is getting better and better," he said, adding that the collaborative agreement will drive communications and mutual understanding between British and Chinese commercial organizations, and meet the needs for business development of enterprises from the both countries.

Experts from China and abroad exchange insights into technological revolution and the creation of innovative cities during a panel discussion, part of the Zhongguancun Forum last week.Provided To China Daily