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Pujiang Innovation Forum 2021 held at Shanghai, China- President ECOSF was among the Key Note Speakers

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Annual Pujiang Innovation Forum – 2021 was organized in hybrid mode from 31 May – 4 June 2021. Theme of the event was "Innovation for A Better Life for Mankind”.  A sub-forum entitled; Belt and Road Initiative Innovation Cooperation on Green Development, Health Innovation and Digital Development Issues was organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Technology for Development (CASTED) in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China and Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai, at Shahgai, China.

The BRI Sub-Forum was presided over by Mr. Liu Dongmei, Vice President of CASTED. Mr. Ruan Xiangping, the first-level Inspector of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology delivered the opening speech whereas, Xie Wenlan, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, and China Science and Technology for Development Strategy Research Dean Hu Zhijian also spoke in the BRI Sub-Forum. The Forum invited experts of technology innovation think tanks from countries along the “Belt and Road” such as Dubai (UAE), Pakistan, Serbia, Thailand, the World Bank representative office in China, and well-known domestic think tanks such as Fudan University, Shanghai Academy of Sciences, Renmin University of China, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, etc. Experts delivered keynote speeches to jointly explore ways and plans to strengthen technological innovation cooperation in the fields of health, digital, and green development, and deepen the development of the B&R Innovation Road.

The Pujiang Innovation Forum, in Shanghai, is the largest and the most important gathering of its kind in the world, this year it was held for the 14th time. Every year, the Forum brings together hundreds of important participants from politics, academia, industry and the media. Last year, in 2020, Serbia was the country/guest of honor.

Renowned experts from the World attended the Forum and delivered the speeches and presentations, covering the latest technologies and hot topics. For example, Mohammed Al-Hashmi, Chief Technology Officer of the Dubai World Expo said that the 2021 Pujiang Innovation Forum was an important symbol of a new level of cooperation between China and the United Arab Emirates in technological innovation and have led to many opportunities for cooperation and innovation. Branislav Djordjevic, Director of the Serbian Institute of International Political Economy, pointed out that Serbia and China’s cooperation in science and technology innovation is of a high level. Tang Zhimin, Director of the China-ASEAN Studies Center of the Thai Chia University School of Management, believed that under the "One Belt One Road" initiative, Thailand and China can focus on the theme of science and technology poverty alleviation and make full use of digital and green technologies to carry out more innovative cooperation to help the two countries to achieve the inclusive development.

As an invited keynote speaker, Prof. Manzoor H. Soomro, President ECOSF made an online presentation; “Catalyzing Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development in the Belt & Road Region”. He said that the Belt and Road Initiative provides great opportunity for countries along the route to open a new era of trade, economic and industrial growth, and will help China and developing countries in achieving a win-win scenario. In order to maximize the benefits of BRI, the participating countries require developing adequate technological workforce and engaging in an alliance for promotion of cross-border cooperation in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sectors, said Prof. Soomro. He further said that BRI can lead to Global Peace and Harmony by nurturing cooperation and collaboration; though the competitors can pose a threat as well and the BRI has to prepare for that as well.

The Experts generally believed that it was necessary to further deepen cooperation in the field of digital technologies among countries and regions along the “Belt and Road”. The Experts also agreed that green development and low-carbon development are major opportunities for technological innovation cooperation between countries and regions along the "Belt and Road" in the new era.  The countries and regions along the route have continued to invest in technological innovation, green technologies and sustainable technological development. In terms of green technology development, every country has the same starting line, and China can become a global leader by helping cooperating countries. 

The week-long Innovation Forum provided excellent opportunities to the participants who presented their innovative ideas & techniques and discussed the ways to develop collaboration in cutting edge technologies.

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