By Hasan Muhammad

More than 1,000 guests from over 100 countries and regions gathered for the five-day 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. With a theme centered on “New Quality Productive Forces and Global Science and Technology Cooperation,” the ZGC Forum serves as a crucial platform for international collaboration, bringing together scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and investors to discuss the future of cutting-edge industries.

Among the key features of this year’s event are the 128 scheduled activities spanning five major domains: forums, technology trade, achievements, innovation competitions, and supporting events. With sixty parallel forums taking place, a major emphasis has been placed on fostering discussions around artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics, and sustainable development. The participation of more than 30 international organizations and institutions adds further weight to the forum’s global influence, ensuring that its impact extends beyond China's borders.

One of the most striking aspects of the 2025 ZGC Forum is its focus on AI and humanoid robotics, which are no longer confined to theoretical discussions but are actively shaping real-world applications. Nearly 100 robots from 15 companies have been deployed at the forum, engaging in a variety of tasks ranging from serving drinks and answering queries to delivering objects and demonstrating calligraphy. These developments underscore China’s progress in human-machine interaction and its commitment to integrating AI into everyday life.

The forum has also served as a launchpad for significant scientific achievements. The National Natural Science Foundation of China announced the nation’s top 10 scientific advances of 2024, spanning fields such as mathematics, physics, astronomy, information science, chemistry, materials science, and life sciences. Among these breakthroughs was China’s "Meng Xiang" drilling vessel, designed to explore deep-sea resources, and the first emission of synchrotron radiation light from the High Energy Photon Source in Beijing’s Huairou District. Such developments reaffirm China's growing role in global scientific research and its push for self-reliance in critical technological areas.

This year’s forum also included the launch of 20 new initiatives, such as the Open Science International Forum and the Ocean Science and Development Forum. These platforms aim to enhance global scientific cooperation and reinforce the forum’s reputation as a hub for open innovation. China’s stance against rising protectionism was evident in its push for multilateral scientific collaboration, an effort that has been met with enthusiasm by international delegates.

Beyond its economic and scientific significance, the ZGC Forum serves as a bridge between fundamental research and commercial application. The scientific advances presented at the event highlight China’s increasing strength in basic research. The forum provides a space where breakthroughs in fields such as gene therapy and quantum computing can be translated into real-world solutions, ensuring that theoretical discoveries do not remain confined to laboratories.

As AI, robotics, and green technologies continue to shape the world, events like the ZGC Forum will play an increasingly vital role in fostering international cooperation and driving forward the next wave of scientific breakthroughs. With China positioning itself as both a technological powerhouse and a global collaborator, the forum’s influence is set to extend far beyond Beijing, shaping the future of global innovation for years to come.