Influential scientific event attracts world experts to explore possibilities afforded by artificial intelligence

The 2021 Zhongguancun Forum offered global insights into cutting-edge technologies and future industrial trends, and promoted international cooperation and exchanges in innovation, said local officials.

With the theme of "Intelligence, Health, Carbon Neutrality", the five-day event, which is also known as the ZGC Forum, concluded on Tuesday in Beijing's Haidian district.

About 60 activities across six categories were held including conferences, exhibitions, competitions and fairs, according to the organizing committee.

"The main focus of this year's forum is international cooperation and communication in science and technology," said Li Meng, vice-minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The theme, therefore, is of great significance as it indicates the trend of sci-tech industries and can stimulate discussions on multiple global issues, Li said.

Focusing on the three keywords of the 2021 ZGC Forum, guests including Turing Award winners, industry leaders and representatives of foreign enterprises delivered speeches at the main forum held on Saturday.

Lei Jun, CEO and founder of electronics manufacturer Xiaomi, said fostering intelligent manufacturing is an effective way to advance the integrated development of the digital economy and manufacturing.

While the sector is still a "blue ocean" or unexploited market, it will become the major driving force for China's economic development in the next decade and promote the overall rise of Chinese enterprises in the global market, Lei said.

China's special envoy for climate change affairs, Xie Zhenhua, said the country is poised to release a slew of policies to meet its carbon goals, involving such key fields as green finance and industrial upgrading.

Xie also called for joint international cooperation to establish a fair and win-win system for global climate regulation.

Twenty-five parallel forums took place during the five-day event, attracting more than 400 foreign participants from 40 countries and regions.

Participants were invited to exchange views on numerous topics such as the digital economy, life and health, clean energy and sustainable development, said the organizing committee.

On Sept 25, the Artificial Intelligent and Multidisciplinary Synergy Innovation Forum brought together experts from Peking University, Yale University, the University of Cambridge and Chinese Academy of Sciences.

E Weinan, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said at the forum that AI is expected to play a vital role in fundamental science, such as chemistry and physics, in the future.

Machine learning can improve the efficiency of nearly all physical models in natural science, he noted, adding that it will bring huge changes to scientific research and help to develop new scientific software.

At the Blockchain and Digital Economy Development Forum, business representatives shared their success stories about applying blockchain in production and operation.

Meanwhile, scholars from Japan, Australia and Finland presented their latest research at the Development and Future of Quantum Science and Technology Forum.

The Second Global Science and Life Health Forum delved into multiple issues related to COVID-19 vaccines, such as core technologies, adverse reaction and international cooperation.

Gao Fu, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at the forum that science is essential to fighting COVID-19, building China's disease control system and achieving the goal of a healthy China.

During the Global Future Urban Development Forum, participants focused on the circular economy in urban production, exploring what domestic enterprises can do in fields such as marketing and technology development to aid the process.

In addition, the event arranged an array of supportive platforms for international cooperation and exchanges such as the Fifth China-CEEC Conference on Innovation Cooperation and Sino-Nordic Sustainable Development and Innovation Forum.

The main forum also released the city's five major innovation results and the winner list of the 2020 Beijing Sci-Tech Award. A total of 14 scientists and 150 projects received the honor.