nternational Science, Technology and Innovation Forum of Boao Forum for Asia 2025 Hong Kong Conference will be held on June 6-7, 2025 in Hong Kong. On January 17, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) held a preparatory meeting for ISTIF. Secretary General Zhang Jun hosted the meeting, and Mr. Leong Vai Tac, the Executive Chairman of the Conference, and representatives of South China University of Technology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hainan Province, Shenzhen City, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, the Y. Elites Association, Deloitte and Reed Business, as well as other relevant governmental departments, scientific research institutes and the international business community attended the meeting.
At the meeting, Secretary General Zhang Jun emphasized that ISTIF should be equipped with the integrated characteristics of Boao Forum for Asia, Greater Bay Area characteristics and Hong Kong characteristics. First, it should grasp the general trend of development, lead the direction of international cooperation, and become a leader and influencer in S&T innovation, international cooperation and global governance. It is necessary to create an open, fair and inclusive environment for global scientific and technological development and cooperation, promote the rational allocation of scientific and technological resources and the mobility of talents, adhere to multilateralism, and actively play the key role of the United Nations in the field of scientific and technological innovation. It is necessary to strengthen global governance in the field of science and technology, improve and perfect the relevant rules and regulations, and strengthen risk management and control to ensure that scientific and technological innovation can abide by the principles of integrity, stability and progress.
Second, it is needed to promote the transformation of results, explore growth momentum and promote practical cooperation. We must adhere to the main line of economic development, inject impetus for realizing high-quality and sustainable development, promote the transformation and upgrading of the regional economy, and better cope with global challenges with the power of science and technology. It is necessary to promote the integration of industry, academia and research, and practical cooperation, explore the opportunities of future industries, and inject momentum into industrial development.
Third, we should help the global South grow, narrow the technological divide and practice fairness and justice. The international community should make joint efforts to strengthen the capacity building of developing countries in science, technology and innovation, solve the problem of insufficient funding, prevent the further widening of the digital, technological and development divides, and make greater contributions to the modernization of the global South and developing countries together.
Fourth, we should create a regional innovation highland and play a radiation-driven role. It should serve the vision of the Greater Bay Area to create an innovation highland with global influence, and contribute to the development of Asia and to addressing global challenges.
Representatives of all parties have carefully studied the preparatory work for ISTIF and believe that the world today is in a stage of accelerated evolution of a great change that has not occurred in a hundred years, and that a new round of global scientific and technological revolution and industrial change is developing in depth, with changes in the field of science and technology occurring rapidly day by day. While the rapid development of science and technology has brought benefits to mankind, it has also had an unprecedented impact on human society, and global science and technology governance is facing many challenges. International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum of Boao Forum for Asia 2025 Hong Kong Conference will play a positive role in promoting international exchanges and cooperation in science, technology and innovation by keeping in line with cutting-edge development trends in the design of its themes and topics, as well as flexible and diverse forms of the conference, with distinctive Boao characteristics. All parties look forward to working together with BFA in organizing the ISTIF well, to promote fair and just global science and technology governance, and contribute wisdom and proposals for international science and technology innovation and cooperation.
