The 2026 ZGC Forum Annual Conference opened in Beijing on March 25. Ding Xuexiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the opening ceremony and delivered an address.
Ding Xuexiang noted that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China had achieved significant new progress in the sci-tech sector. The country’s sci-tech strength was markedly enhanced, and its influence as a key pole of global innovation grew considerably.
Ding pointed out that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will move faster towards achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, building international centers for sci-tech innovation, and forging key strategic pillars for making China a sci-tech power. At last year’s Central Economic Work Conference, President Xi Jinping announced that the Beijing International Center for Science and Technology Innovation would be expanded to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and that the Shanghai International Science and Technology Innovation Center would be expanded to the Yangtze River Delta, and he made major strategic arrangements for the development of all three international science and technology innovation centers. As the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area drive China’s high-quality development as three major engines, focusing efforts on these three regions and advancing the development of international science and technology innovation centers from pursuing breakthroughs in individual cities to integrated regional development will help coordinate resources, align policies, pool strengths, and leverage complementary advantages. By turning these regions into sources of innovation, leaders in high-end industries, and magnets for sci-tech resources and talent, we will enable them to play a better role as pioneers, models and drivers in advancing Chinese modernization. We support building the Beijing (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) International Center for Science and Technology Innovation into an important global science hub, a reservoir of best minds, and a pacesetter in innovation.
Ding said China stands ready to work with all parties to build a global sci-tech community. He put forward three proposals: First, build a more open and inclusive innovation network to strengthen ties among various innovators. Second, pursue more extensive and diversified sci-tech cooperation to enhance collaboration on basic and frontier research and promote the application of emerging technologies, thereby empowering economic and social development of all countries. Third, advance more equitable and inclusive sci-tech governance for good, by properly addressing regulatory conflicts, social risks, and ethical challenges that may arise from sci-tech development.
After the ceremony, Ding toured the permanent exhibition at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center and spoke with science and technology professionals.
Yin Li, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, attended relevant activities. In his speech, he said Beijing will fully implement the directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches during his inspections of Beijing and Xiong’an New Area in Hebei. The city will accelerate the development of the Beijing (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) International Center for Science and Technology Innovation, and build it into a world-class source of sci-tech innovation. The city will pursue the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, and intensify efforts to advance original innovation and strive for breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields. On that basis, Beijing will promote deeper integration between sci-tech and industrial innovation, foster and expand new quality productive forces, use science and technology to create a better life, and cultivate a world-class innovation ecosystem featuring openness and collaboration, enabling innovation to better drive prosperity and development.
Others attendees included Yin Hejun, Minister of Science and Technology; Zhang Yuzhuo, Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council; Wang Zhijun, Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council; Ma Zhaoxu, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Hou Jianguo, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Li Xiaohong, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; He Junke, Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group, Vice President in charge of daily work, and Chief Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology; Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing; Li Xiuling, Chairman of the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal People’s Congress; and You Jun, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal People’s Congress.
Under the theme “Integrate Technological and Industrial Innovation”, the 2026 ZGC Forum Annual Conference brought together about 1,000 participants for the opening ceremony, including researchers, business leaders, government officials, and heads of international organizations from home and abroad. A plenary session followed, featuring keynote speeches by eminent Chinese and foreign scientists and entrepreneurs.
