On the afternoon of May 26, 2022, the 20th Conference on International Exchange of Professionals (“The Conference”) was opened online, together with Shenzhen Forum themed with “Accelerating the Construction of Talent Centers and Innovation Hubs of Global Importance”. The Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang made a keynote speech and announced the opening of the Conference. Among the attendees were the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region Ho Iat Seng, the Governor of Guangdong Province Wang Weizhong, the Vice Mayor of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality Jin Wei, the Vice Mayor of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Liu Duo, the Deputy Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee Meng Fanli and other leaders and guests, who attended the opening ceremony of the Conference by video and delivered a speech at the Shenzhen Forum. Li Meng, the Vice Minister of Science and Technology and Director of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, presided over the opening ceremony of Shenzhen Forum and the Conference. Other guests participating in the event online included those from the relevant ministries and commissions of China, provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, cities specifically designated in the state plan and sub-provincial cities, the competent department of science and technology of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, relevant departments of Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, as well as institutions of higher learning, scientific research institutes, professional institutions and enterprises in and out of China.

Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang made a keynote speech and announced the opening of the Conference

Wang Zhigang pointed out that theCPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the corehas always attached great importance to scientific and technological innovation and development, insisted on taking innovation as the primary driving force fordevelopment, and firmlypracticed the innovation-driven development strategy. On the Global Innovation Index, Chinarose from the22^nd in 2017 to the 12^th in 2021. RMB2.79 trillion was invested in social Research and Experimental Development; the turnover of technology contracts exceeded RMB3.7 trillion; the export of high-tech products reached US$980 billion, and the number of international patent applications exceeded 69,000, ranking first in the world. China has always upheld the concept that talents are the first resource and established the strategic orientation that talents lead development, creating a good atmosphere of“gathering and leveraging the advantages of talents”. In 2021,the number ofoverseas Chinese students returned to China for innovation and entrepreneurship exceeded one million for the first time, and a total of 1.18 million foreigners were granted permits to work in China.

Wang Zhigang noted that the Chinese government has been striving to improve the global level of scientific and technological innovation and openness, and actively contributing Chinese wisdom to addressing common global challenges. At present, China has established scientific and technological cooperation relations with more than 160 countries and regions around the world, and has participated in more than 200 international organizations and multilateral mechanisms. China has actively participated in a series of international major scientific programs and projects such as ITER, GEO and SKA, endeavoring to promote international exchanges and cooperation in such fields as health, climate change, clean energy, artificial intelligence, biomedicine and modern agriculture, and contributing more Chinese scientific and technological solutions for settlement of global problems. In the face of COVID-19 that rages the world, China has continued to promote emergency scientific research for pandemic prevention and control. Seven types of vaccines have been put on the market, neutralizing antibody combination therapy and the traditional Chinese medicine “Three Prescriptions” have been approved to be put on the market in China, and more than 100 testing reagent products have been put on the market. In the meantime, China have taken the initiative to join hands with the international community to fight against the pandemic, build a scientific sharing service platform, strengthen international joint research, and start the construction of the “the Belt and Road” joint labs for infectious disease prevention and control as well as the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center. China has earnestly fulfilled the solemn commitment to provide vaccines and other public products to the world, and fulfilled responsibilities to the global public health undertaking with practical actions. Through scientific and technological innovation and cooperation, China have provided important support for a successful 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, solving technical problems related to the preparation of events, implementing more than 200 technological achievements, and achieving accurate and effective pandemic prevention and control during the events. Therefore, the “high-tech Winter Olympics” has become a highlight of this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Focusing on the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, China has launched a number of key scientific and technological projects such as hydrogen-energy and new-energy vehicles, studied and prepared the action plan for carbon neutralization supported by science and technology and the roadmap for the development of carbon neutralization technologies, accelerated the application and promotion of a number of new technologies such as joint prevention and control of air pollution, as well as clean and efficient utilization of coal, and jointly launched the initiative of “Green Power Future Mission” with the United Kingdom and Italy.

As noted by Wang Zhigang, China is willing to enhance the level of scientific and technological opening-up with a broader vision and more pragmatic measures, keep strengthening the scientific and technological innovation strategies and policy dialogue, actively build an international scientific and technological cooperation platform for all kinds of innovation subjects and researchers, and promote the vigorous development of international talent exchange activities in all fields and at all levels. China will join hands with other countries’ scientific and technological forces to actively respond to common global challenges, and has been striving to create a long-term and stable international innovation environment for global scientists, as well as science and technology enterprises. China opens its arms for all talents at home and abroad who are encouraged to leverage their talents, make scientific contributions, and realize their value for life in China.

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, gave a speech

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor noted that the current government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has spared no efforts to promote the development of innovation and technology, create an all-round ecological environment conducive to the development of innovation and science, and resolutely cooperate with the “14th five-year plan” announced by the central government last March to build Hong Kong into an International Innovation and Science and Technology Center since it took office in 2017. Over the past five years, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has invested HK$ 150 billion in infrastructure, basic research, talent training, popular science education, achievement transformation, investment and start-up, with positive results achieved. In the future, Hong Kong will continue to make good use of a series of new measures taken by the central government and the Ministry of Science and Technology to benefit Hong Kong, strengthen close, in-depth and high-level cooperation with Chinese mainland in innovation and science, actively promote the cooperation and development of scientific and technological innovation in talent, capital, technology and scientific research, accelerate economic transformation, give full play to Hong Kong’s strengths, make contributions in aspects needed by the country, and achieve unprecedented achievements.

Ho Iat Seng, the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, gave a speech

Ho Iat Seng noted that, Macao must uphold the concept of “building Macao by talents”, increase efforts to introduce outstanding talents while fully cultivating and making good use of local talents and enhancing the city competitiveness of Macao, in a bid to meet the central government’s requirements raised to Macao Special Administrative Region to promote the moderately diversified economic development, realize the development orientation of Macao as “one center, one platform and one base”, participate in the high-quality construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (“the Greater Bay Area”) and promote the construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and better integrate into the overall national development situation. At present, the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region is formulating a talent introduction system in combination with the actual needs of social and economic development, giving priority to the introduction of leading talents and senior talents in key development industries such as great health, modern finance, high technology, and culture and sports, so as to break through the talent resource bottleneck of new industries and empower the appropriately diversified economic development of Macao.

Wang Weizhong, the Governor of Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, gave a speech

Wang Weizhong noted that Guangdong Province will firmly grasp the great opportunity of the strategic deployment made by General Secretary Xi Jinping to build a high-level talent highland and create a demonstration area for innovative talents in the Greater Bay Area, deeply implement the “five major projects” to build Guangdong a powerful province with superior talents in the new era, implement a more active, open and effective policy of attracting and cultivating talents. Efforts have also been made to accelerate the construction of a high-level multi-level talent gathering platform, so as to introduce, cultivate and gather more high-level composite talents with strategic scientist potential, first-class scientific and technological leading talents and innovation teams, young scientific and technological talents and outstanding engineers, thus endeavoring to build Guangdong a province where the world’s top-notch scientific and technological innovation talents aspire to gather. Guangdong Province will implement the preferential policies for talent income tax in the Greater Bay Area, deepen the cooperation in talent attraction, recruitment and cultivation in the Greater Bay Area, innovatively implement the modes of “l(fā)iving in Hong Kong and Macao but working in Chinese Mainland”, and “making scientific research in Hong Kong and Macao but achieving transformation in Chinese Mainland”, and accurately link with the world’s top-notch talents. Besides, Guangdong Province will deepen the reform of talent development systems and mechanisms, endeavor to remove institutional barriers in talent training, use, evaluation, incentive, mobility and supports, and fully stimulate the innovation and creativity of talents, thus making Guangdong a cradle for talents to start up their business, make innovation and seek vigorous development.

Jin Wei, the Vice Mayor of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality

Jin Wei noted that, in recent years, Beijing has adhered to serving the national strategic needs and made endeavors to build an international first-class talent development platform, paid equal importance to talent introduction and training for improving Beijing’s global talent competition potential, persisted in deepening the reform of talent system and mechanism for stimulating the innovative vitality of talents, and tried utmost to provide the best services to solve problems in innovation and entrepreneurship of scientific and technological talents, with positive results achieved. In the future, Beijing will continue to focus on the construction of national strategic scientific and technological forces, attract, retain and make use of talents with favorable undertakings and platforms, and endeavor to build a demonstration area of innovative talents. What’s more, Beijing will carry forward and practice the spirit of scientists and entrepreneurs in the new era, attract, recruit and cultivate various talents, especially young scientific and technological talents, and do talent-related work well according to “the first-class and best” standards. It is also Beijing’s vision to create an environment more suitable for international talent innovation and development, and focus on talent innovation and development to form a talent system and mechanism with more international competitiveness and empower Beijing’s efforts in building an international science and technology innovation center.

Liu Duo, the Vice Mayor of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, gave a speech

Liu Duo noted that, upholding the strategic direction of “four orientations”, Shanghai has continuously enhanced its strategic scientific and technological strength and high-level scientific and technological supply, focused on building an open and collaborative innovation network, deepened institutional and mechanism reform, and built a “new ecology” for the development of scientific and technological talents in recent years. To date, Shanghai has witnessed great enhancement in the concentration of innovation resources, the influence of scientific and technological achievements, the leading power of emerging industries, the attraction of innovation environment, and the driving force of regional radiation effects, with a series of substantive breakthroughs and a number of great original achievements made, and the basic framework system for building a science and technology innovation center with global influence formed. In the future, Shanghai will provide a broad stage for global scientists, and endeavor to become a source of innovation to lead the future that provides opportunities for innovation entrepreneurs to realize their dreams. In the meantime, Shanghai will be an open and shared innovation testing site that provides all-round supporting services for innovation entrepreneurs, and a yearning place for talents in the world that provides China with strong impetus for accelerated construction of talent centers and innovation highlands of global importance.

Meng Fanli, the Deputy Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, gave a speech

Meng Fanli noted that Shenzhen has thoroughly studied and implemented the important exposition of General Secretary Xi Jinping on talent work and the guiding principles of a series of important speeches and important instructions to Guangdong and Shenzhen, implemented the strategy of strengthening the country with talents, built a systematic talent policy system, created a good talent development environment, and formed a growing talent team. Upholding the philosophy of “Adoring Talents with Devotion, Awaiting Talents in Shenzhen”, Shenzhen is now shouldering the historical mission of a new era entrusted by General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Central Committee of the CPC, and undertaking major national strategies such as the construction of the Greater Bay Area and building Shenzhen a leading demonstration area. Shenzhen will deepen the reform of talent system and mechanism with greater efforts, open its arms to global talents at a higher level, take more practical measures to cultivate the fertile soil for innovation and entrepreneurship, serve talents with heart and effort, and cultivate, introduce and make good use of talents in an all-round way, thus giving full play to its role of “a core engine” in the construction of high-tech and innovation talent highland demonstration zone in the Greater Bay Area, and making the greatest contribution to the construction of talent centers and innovation highlands of global importance.

Li Meng, the Vice Minister of Science and Technology and Director of the State Administration of foreign experts Affairs, presided over the opening ceremony of Shenzhen Forum and the Conference

Li Meng noted that, ushering in its20^th session this year, the Conference has always been a platform to promote the mutually beneficial international scientific and technological cooperation and international talent exchange. Relying on China’s large-scale market and complete industrial chain,the Conference has provided fertile soil for scientific and technological innovation cooperation and set up a stage for talents from all countries. Today, the Conference has become an exposition and trade fair for international scientific and technological innovation achievements and international talent exchange, and an important platform and well-known brand for China to gather global innovative talents. This year also marks the15^th anniversary of the establishment of Shenzhen Forum. As a high-end platformforinternational scientific and technological innovation cooperation and international talent exchange,the forum has always attracted attention for itshigh standard, authority and high-qualitycontents. Its tenet ofexchanging ideas, gathering wisdom andconsensus, and exploring cutting-edge issues has deeply embodied in the pastsessions.

This year’s Conference is set with several functional zones like “virtual exhibition hall”, “project pairing”, “online recruitment”, and “online service” for cloud-based exhibition, forum discussion, pairing and exchange activities. A series of practical online exchange activities with rich elements will be held by the end of this year to give full play to the unique role of the online conference, and to serve all parties better in international scientific and technological innovation cooperation and international talent exchange.