(The following press release is issued on behalf of the Secretariat of Boao Forum for Asia)

On the morning of 10 November, Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) convenes the Opening Ceremony of the First Conference of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum of BFA (ISTIF). H.E. XI Jinping, President of the host country, China, sent a congratulatory letter to the Forum, and H.E. HAN Zheng, Vice-Premier of China, addressed a virtual keynote speech. H.E. BAN Ki-moon (via video link), BFA Chairman of the Board, H.E. HO Hau-wah, President of ISTIF, H.E. ZHOU Xiaochuan, Vice-Chairman of the Board and Chief Representative of China, H.E. Gloria Arroyo, BFA Board Member and Former President of the Philippines, H.E. HO Iat Seng, Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, and H.E. Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR also delivered speeches at the opening session, moderated by H.E. LI Baodong, Secretary-General of BFA.

The speakers acknowledge that science and technology are the overarching force that drives human civilization. To facilitate technological innovation and enhance global technology governance, we need further cooperation across borders because technologies themselves do not have borders. As Covid-19 has posed tremendous challenges to countries across the globe, the International Technology and Innovation Forum will help Asia and the world transform their growth patterns, boost post-pandemic recovery, and foster sustainable development.

Representatives from the supporting agencies of ISTIF were invited to give remarks, including H.E. ZHANG Xiaoming, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China’s State Council, H.E. FU Ziying, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, H.E. HUANG Wei, Vice-Minister of Science and Technology of China, H.E. WANG Zhijun, Vice-Minister of Industry and Information Technology of China, and H.E. WANG Dong, Acting Commissioner of the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China to Macao. H.E. LIU Hua, Director of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Office in China read the congratulatory letter on behalf of H.E. DENG Hongsen, Director-General of the WIPO.

Also attended and addressed the event were H.E MAO Chaofeng, Executive Vice-Governor of the Hainan Province, and H.E. ZHU Zhongming, Vice-Governor of the Hunan Province. H.E. ZHAO Houlin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, delivered a speech via video link. And H.E. LI Lei, Vice President and Regional Head of North Asia of SABIC (2020 Honorary Strategic Partner of BFA) gave remarks on behalf of the business sector.

The Ambassador of Algeria to China, along with diplomatic corps of Kazakhstan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and other BFA’s initial countries, participated at the opening plenary. Besides, more 40 media outlets across the Mainland China and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area attended the forum.

ISTIF is co-hosted by the BFA and the Macao S.A.R. Government. The 3-day conference is themed by “Innovation Empowers Sustainable Development”. Centring around 3 key phrases -- Impetus for Innovation, Innovation and Life, and Cooperation on Innovation, ISTIF is comprised of a series of sessions and in-person events. Approximately 100 heavyweight speakers and nearly 1,000 delegates from 18 countries and regions congregated in the conference, which has hereby become a crucial platform for international exchanges and cooperation in science, technology and innovation.