The Annual Meeting of the Belt and Road International Science Education Consortium (BRISEC) was held on September 22, 2026, in Nanning, China. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Manzoor Hussain Soomro, Vice President of BRISEC, who welcomed the members attending both physically and online.

Ms. Xin Bing, Director General, Children and Youth Science Center of CAST (CYSC), presented the highlights of BRISEC’s annual work covering July 2025 to August 2026. She emphasized BRISEC’s continued efforts to advance international science and education cooperation and promote people-to-people exchanges among science and education institutions, youth and science and technology teachers of member countries.

During the reporting period, BRISEC strengthened multilateral and bilateral cooperation. Its members participated in the 40th China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest (CASTIC), involving youth from 27 countries, and supported the Initiative on Advancing AI-enabled Cultivation of Future Innovative Talents. Ms. Xin Bing also highlighted cooperation with UNESCO and other partners, including the World Science Day for Peace and Development event in Islamabad, STEM Summer Science Camp and other science and education activities. The Secretariat published three quarterly newsletters, initiated quarterly online exchanges on AI education and regional science education, de veloped 21 science-popularization videos for African youth, and introduced an online maker course on intelligent transnational transportation robots. Regional cooperation platforms covering ASEAN, Central Asia, ECO region, Arab States, and the Lancang-Mekong region were also established to promote youth science and people-to-people exchanges.

The meeting was attended physically and online by the representatives from 27 national, regional and international member institutes/organizations who presented the progress of the activities done during the reporting period.

Prof. Seyed Komail Tayebi, President ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF), also made a presentation, introducing ECOSF, its objectives and major activities undertaken during the reporting period. He highlighted the Islamabad STEM Camp, observance of World Science Day and World Water Day 2026, and science webinars organized in collaboration with regional and international organizations.

Then, Prof. Tayebi proposed ECOSF proposes establishing a joint working mechanism among interested member institutions to identify priority activities, participating institutions and available expertise. A pilot programme could initially focus on Al and STEM educator training, student maker activities, and digital resource sharing, followed by expansion into joint research and regional standard-setting. Hence, BRISEC platform can be used for this purpose.

Through coordinated efforts, he added, the initiative can contribute to developing a new generation of scientifically literate, technologically skilled and innovation-oriented young people, while strengthening mutual exchange and cooperation among the participating countries.

Prof. Tayebi appreciated the BRISEC Secretariat for its efforts in organizing and supporting science and education activities among countries along the Belt and Road.

During the meeting, the organizations/institutions from China, Algeria and Iran that had expressed interest in joining BRISEC were granted observer status.

Ms. Xing Bing DG of CYSC was unanimously elected as Vice President and Secretary General of BRISEC and Mr. Qian Cheng, Deputy Director of CYSC elected as Vice Secretary General of BRISEC.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks.