The rise of AI technology has given wings to scientific innovation across the world. At the same time, the global community is grappling with growing divisions and conflicts. Enhanced international cooperation in science and technology is needed now more than ever.
The annual Zhongguancun Forum, established in 2007, has become a response to this need. As a major international platform for enhancing global innovation in science and technology, it provides an important venue for dialogue and collaboration.
The 2026 Zhongguancun Forum, held in Beijing from Wednesday to Sunday under the theme of “Complete Integration between Technology and Industrial Innovation”, attracted the participation of nearly 1,000 guests from more than 100 countries and regions.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang called on all parties to build a global community for science and technology.
To promote the progress of science and technology, the first imperative is to build a more open and inclusive innovation network. To this end, countries should work together to strengthen the bonds of cooperation between different innovation institutions.
An open network not only accelerates breakthroughs by pooling global expertise and resources but also ensures that smaller nations and developing economies can share the benefits of technological advances. Such inclusive connectivity is essential for collective progress.
Efforts also need to be made to pursue broader and more diverse scientific and technological cooperation. This includes strengthening coordinated research in basic and frontier areas and application of emerging technologies.
Much still needs to be done to promote equitable and altruistic science and technology governance, to properly address potential rule conflicts, social risks and ethical challenges arising from technological developments. Indeed, as transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence become increasingly incorporated into daily life, the global community must collaboratively establish standards and regulations that ensure ethical use, protect privacy, and minimize risks.
Collaborative governance can help prevent conflicts, manage social impacts, and resolve ethical dilemmas. Such governance is not about stifling innovation, but about steering it toward outcomes that benefit all humanity.
China’s commitment to advancing innovation is underlined in its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). The blueprint prioritizes innovation as a core pillar of high-quality development with substantial investments in areas such as AI, quantum computing and advanced manufacturing.
This focus on technological self-reliance is not a turn toward isolation; Rather, it creates vast opportunities for international talents, corporations, research institutes and start-ups to engage with China’s dynamic innovation ecosystem through joint R&D or participation in emerging industrial clusters. The plan’s emphasis on inclusive growth and win-win cooperation aligns seamlessly with the goal of building a global community for science and technology.
As Ding said, turning the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into powerhouses for regional integrated development is conducive to achieving resource integration, policy synergy and complementary benefits, and developing them into international science and technology innovation centers. This initiative exemplifies China’s commitment to collaborative innovation with global partners.
The way forward requires a collective commitment to openness, cooperation and responsible governance, not isolation, repression and hegemony. By working together, nations can harness the full potential of technology to address shared challenges and build a more sustainable and equitable future. The Zhongguancun Forum, with its legacy of fostering global innovation, provides an appropriate platform to embark on this journey together.
