Events

2023 Exhibition of ZGC Forum (CHITEC) Opens with Fanfare

2023-5-26 15:44:49

The 2023 Exhibition of ZGC Forum, also known as the China Beijing International High-tech Expo (CHITEC), took place in Beijing from May 26 to 30, 2023. This year's event is hosted by CCPIT Beijing, focusing on the theme of “Open Cooperation for a Shared Future”. The Exhibition was held at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center and in the temporary exhibition hall on the west side of Haidian Gongyuan Road, spanning an area of 27,000 square meters. The event lasted for five days and attracted approx. 650 companies and institutions.

The 2023 Exhibition of ZGC Forum consisted of four parts: comprehensive activities, exhibitions and presentations, promotions and trade, and online showcase. The comprehensive activities included high-level visits and a meeting between the leaders of Beijing and delegations representing various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. The exhibitions and presentations were held in six zones, dedicated respectively to cutting-edge technologies and future industries, IT and intelligent manufacturing, green and low-carbon development, pharmaceuticals and health, the digital economy, and regional innovation. These zones aimed to showcase achievements in frontier sciences such as blockchain, high-end manufacturing, genetics, and cellular therapy. Eight promotional and exchange events took place this year around the following themes: “Data Intelligence: Reshaping the Future”, “Specialized and Sophisticated Enterprises and Capital Markets”, “ChatGPT and Frontier AI Technology”, “Technology-enabled Non-performing Asset Investment”, “Technological Achievements and Investment & Financing”, “Technological Projects in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei”, “Beijing Green Silk Road and Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Technology's Innovation Cooperation Exchange Conference (2023)”, and “Digital Future and VR: Promotions and Exchanges of Companies, Universities, and Institutes in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei”. The online showcase was made accessible through the official websites of the ZGC Forum and CHITEC, allowing exhibitors to present their brand image, research achievements, and latest products.

 

The 2023 Mid-year Session of the Meeting of International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Beijing (IBLAC) was held on the occasion of the Exhibition. Municipal leaders compared notes with the Asia-Pacific/China heads of over 30 IBLAC members representing Fortune 500 multinational corporations to explore the development of foreign enterprises in Beijing and further promote the city’s high-level opening-up.

An Yongjun, Director of the International Exhibition Department of CCPIT Beijing, introduced four major highlights of the 2023 Exhibition of ZGC Forum.

First, the event further established itself as a national-level platform. This year’s CHITEC was a significant event for international technological exchanges, serving as a crucial milestone in China’s pursuit of a distinctive path to modernization. Focusing on the national strategy of innovation-driven development, the Exhibition attracted over 70 central enterprises, including the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, and China Electronics Corporation, and over 30 technology leaders like Xiaomi and BOE. It also featured the presence of more than 20 universities and institutes such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, and Peking University, along with delegations from China’s three international centers for technology and innovation as well as 30-odd provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, including Anhui, Hunan, Shaanxi, Wuhan, and Chengdu.

Second, the event facilitated extensive international technological exchanges. Focusing on the construction of Beijing as an international center for technology and innovation and a leading force in the digital economy, this year's Exhibition witnessed enhanced efforts to attract international technological organizations and multinational corporations. A remarkable presence was observed with the participation of 165 foreign enterprises and institutions from nearly 30 countries and regions. Among them were Fortune 500 companies such as ABB, Schneider Electric, Veolia, NEC, Panasonic, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, Nokia, Emerson, Beijing MTR, and Standard & Poor's, which showcased their cutting-edge technological achievements during the event.

Third, the event solidified its position as a leader in cutting-edge technologies. Focusing on cutting-edge technologies and future industries, this year’s Exhibition served as a showcase for the latest global technological breakthroughs and major achievements in various domains, including the metaverse, AI, quantum information, brain science, and cellular and genetic therapy. It also unveiled numerous projects and products that epitomize the forefront of global technologies, including ChainMaker, quantum computing cloud platform, open-source chips, and neuromorphic computing chips.

Fourth, the event dazzled with interactive displays. Embracing the concept of technology-driven exhibition, the event introduced technologies like holographic projection and digital guidance. Within the metaverse exhibition cluster, visitors were treated to immersive experiences through VR, AR, wireless motion capture, and physical models. The robotics exhibition cluster featured not only multifunctional robots employed in diverse industries but also core technologies and components such as chips and sensors. In the exhibition cluster dedicated to new-energy and intelligent connected vehicles, visitors had the opportunity to engage extensively with the vehicles and futuristic transportation modes.

Since its inception in 1998, CHITEC has evolved into a national event for global discussions and exchanges on science and technology approved by the State Council, hosted by Ministry of Science and Technology, State Intellectual Property Office, CCPIT, and Beijing Municipal Government, and organized by CCPIT Beijing . In 2021, CHITEC was incorporated with the ZGC Forum. According to incomplete statistics, CHITEC has attracted over 1,100 overseas delegations representing more than 100 countries and regions, as well as 40,000-odd exhibitors and upwards of 5.7 million visitors. The event provides an important platform for showcasing Beijing’s achievements in building an international center for technology and innovation, promoting collaborative innovation among the government, companies, universities, and institutes, and deepening international capacity cooperation. It has left an indelible mark on the domestic technological scene, facilitating its journey from reliance on imports to self-sufficiency, continuous improvement, and international prominence.