The 23rd Annual Meeting of The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) held in Beijing

On the morning of July 27, 2021, the 23rd Annual Meeting of The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), co-sponsored by the CAST and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, was successfully held in Beijing Etrong International Exhibition and Convention Center, with the theme of "Leading by innovation, self-reliance -- to build a new development pattern together". Mr. Cai Qi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Mr. Han Qide, vice chairman of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, attended the opening ceremony.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Pan Jianwei, vice chairman of the CAST, Mr. Lin Ming, chief engineer of China Communications Construction Co., Ltd., Mr. Wan Jianmin, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Mr. Gao Fu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, respectively given their lectures entitled "New Quantum Revolution", "Facing the Main Economic Battlefield, to Build World-class Projects by using Innovative Engineering Technology", "Developing Biological Breeding to Ensure Food Security", "Inspiration from Vaccine Research, Development and Innovation: Seeking Science to Find Answers".

At the opening ceremony, a dialogue session was created for scientists to talk about the mission of the new era undertaken by the science and technology community. Academician He Manchao, the president of the Chinese Society for Rock Mechanics and Engineering (CSRME), was invited to participate in the dialogue.

More than 700 people including academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, famous experts and scholars, scientific and technological workers, representatives of entrepreneurs, guests from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, experts and scholars from overseas, representatives of scientific and technological organizations and media reporters attended the offline opening ceremony. All sub-forums, 31 CAST provincial and municipal sub-venues, and domestic and overseas representatives participated in online activities.

During the annual meeting, except the opening and closing ceremonies, a total of 25 special events were conducted on the four themes of "The Mission of the New Era undertaken by the Science and Technology Community", "Taking a New Step - Innovation China", "Creating a New Mode of International Exchange", "Injecting New Vigor to Innovation and Development", all will further gather innovative resources and contribute to the construction of Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center and the realization of high-level science and technology independence and self-reliance.