Technology Innovation Empowers Industry Development International Forum

On April 11, 2024, the "Technology Innovation Empowers Industry Development International Forum," part of the 2024 Zhongguancun Forum series, was successfully held at the China Steel Building in Johannesburg, South Africa. The forum featured a speech by South African Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, who attended in person. XU Xinchao, Deputy Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal People's Government, attended via video and delivered a speech. The South African Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, sent a message, while Shen Longgong, Minister Counselor for Science and Technology at the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, was also present and gave a speech.

The forum was co-hosted by the South African Innovation Hub, Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, and Zhongguancun Science Park Management Committee. It was jointly organized by the South African Department of Science and Innovation, the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, the China-South Africa Technology Association, and the China-South Africa Economic and Trade Association, with China Steel South Africa Limited serving as the organizer. Xu Hong, Secretary of the China-South Africa Technology Association, hosted the forum.

This forum focused on core topics such as open and shared technological innovation platforms, the deep integration of technology and industry, and new opportunities for technology industries. It aimed to cultivate new momentum for innovation development, serve the creation of new productive forces, guide the implementation and incubation of new technologies and projects between China and South Africa, and promote the high-quality economic development of both nations. Over 120 guests from various sectors, including business representatives, experts, scholars, and young entrepreneurs from both China and South Africa, attended the event, offering diverse perspectives and forward-looking insights on the high-quality industrial development of the two countries.

Forum opening ceremony

In his opening speech at the forum, Deputy Speaker of the South African National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for proposing and developing the "Zhongguancun Forum," a creative initiative that has helped it move from China to the world, becoming an important global platform for scientific and technological innovation exchange and cooperation. He emphasized that the cooperation between China and South Africa is at a key stage of development, quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping's words, "Those with shared aspirations are not deterred by mountains and seas." He noted that the gathering was driven by this shared spirit, aiming to steadily advance the cooperation between China and South Africa. Tsenoli further stated that the South African government remains committed to fostering international innovation cooperation and exchange policies, continually enhancing legislative, oversight, and accountability capacities, creating opportunities for pragmatic cooperation across various sectors, and jointly promoting the economic development and progress of both countries.

Deputy speaker tsenoli's speech

In his video speech, Xu Xinchao, Deputy Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal Government, stated that Beijing, as an international hub for scientific and technological innovation, rich in innovation resources, highly active in innovation and entrepreneurship, and continuously improving in openness and cooperation, would fully leverage its strengths in technological innovation and new industrialization. Xu emphasized that Beijing would work closely with South Africa, based on South Africa's innovation advantages and development needs, to strengthen innovation exchanges, deepen practical cooperation, empower industrial upgrades, and foster new business models and industries. The forum, according to Xu, would help advance communication and cooperation between innovation entities of both countries, provide a platform for in-depth discussions on improving industrial innovation systems, enhancing industrial cooperation, and sharing experiences in technological innovation, business model innovation, and more. He concluded that the forum would play a positive role in deepening innovation cooperation between China and South Africa.

Source: SACETA WeChat Official Account
Article Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/iJomVCyjHQZ1-T3I6JdqFg

Speech by Deputy Secretary-General Xu Xinchao

Toto Mashego, Director of the Global Projects Division at South Africa's Department of Science and Innovation, read Minister Nzimande’s speech at the opening ceremony. Minister Nzimande expressed that scientific and technological cooperation has always been an important component of the friendly relationship between China and South Africa. Both countries have carried out practical cooperation in many areas such as artificial intelligence, social poverty alleviation, river basin joint project research, joint laboratory construction, and youth scientist exchanges, achieving fruitful results. This forum is an important milestone that witnesses the significant progress both countries have made in the field of scientific and technological innovation. It also provides a key platform to further deepen communication and cooperation and fully unleash innovation potential. As important international partners, South Africa is willing to take this opportunity to strengthen the combination of scientific diplomacy and economic diplomacy. Through cooperation with Zhongguancun Science Park, South Africa aims to establish new partnerships, launch new technological projects, and jointly advance the innovation systems and high-quality industrial development of both countries.

Minister Nzimande’s Speech (Delivered by Director Toto Mashego)

Minister Nzimande expressed in his speech, delivered by Director Mashego, that the scientific and technological cooperation between China and South Africa has always been an essential component of their strong bilateral relationship. He highlighted the broad range of cooperation between the two nations, including joint efforts in projects like the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope, cross-border innovation incubators, poverty reduction cooperation, traditional medicine, and youth scientist exchange programs. He expressed confidence that China and South Africa would continue to expand the breadth and depth of their cooperation. By achieving more practical results, the two nations will jointly usher in a golden era of friendly development between China and South Africa. Additionally, Mr. Shen Long, the Science and Technology Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, introduced the latest updates on China-South Africa scientific and technological innovation cooperation. He noted that the two countries had established broad cooperation in several fields, such as the SKA project, cross-border innovation incubators, poverty reduction, traditional medicine, and youth scientist exchange programs. He emphasized the bright future of this partnership, believing that the two sides would further broaden their collaboration and work toward even greater success. Following this, Mr. Tibi Matsehela, the Acting General Manager of the South African Innovation Hub, and Mr. Liu Dong, Director of Zhongguancun's South Africa Office and General Manager of Zhonggang South Africa Co., Ltd., delivered their speeches.

Speech by Counselor Shen Long

Speech by Mr. Tibi Matsehele

Speech by Director Liu Dong

During the keynote speech session, the forum invited eight distinguished guest speakers, including Professor Phuti Ezrom Ngoepe, a professor of mining technology at Limpopo University and the 2021 recipient of the China Government Friendship Award; Academician Liu Xinying from the South African Academy of Sciences; Professor Felix Dapare Dakora, a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, former president of the African Academy of Sciences, and professor at Tshwane University of Technology, among others. The topics covered by the keynote speakers spanned key areas such as mining, energy, artificial intelligence, and social sciences. Together, they explored the path to high-quality development through scientific and technological innovation, presenting a spectacular feast of cutting-edge technological insights.

Professor Phuti Ezrom Ngoepe, a professor of mining technology at Limpopo University and the 2021 recipient of the China Government Friendship Award, delivered the keynote speech.

Mr. Chris Chetty, Senior Manager of the Humanities Research Council, delivered the keynote speech.

Academician of the South African Academy of Sciences and President of the China-South Africa Science and Technology Association, delivered the keynote speech.

Executive Director of Research and Innovation at the University of Johannesburg, delivered the keynote speech

General Representative of Northern Company South Africa, delivered the keynote speech.

Director of the Africa Research Institute at the South African Humanities Research Council, delivered the keynote speech

Digital Energy Expert at Huawei, delivered the keynote speech

During the Q&A session, Deputy Speaker Ceroneli and Counselor Shen Long actively answered questions from the audience. Attendees also actively asked questions and engaged in discussions on cutting-edge issues and innovative practices in various industrial fields. The atmosphere at the forum was lively and exciting.

Deputy Speaker Ceroneli answered questions from the guests

Minister-Counselor Shen Long answered questions from the guests

Q&A Session at the Forum

As the organizers of this forum, Zhongguancun and South African Innovation Hub engaged in in-depth communication and exchange during the conference. Both parties plan to expand their cooperation in scope and depth in the future, based on the principles of "complementary advantages, openness and fairness, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes." They aim to foster the collision between technology and industry, focus on industry development trends, and continue to drive innovation in industrial development.

The Zhongguancun Forum serves as a national-level platform for global technological innovation exchange and cooperation, and is also an important platform for Beijing’s efforts to accelerate its development as an international technology innovation center and a global digital economy benchmark city. In recent years, Beijing has been committed to promoting technological innovation and international cooperation. The city adheres to a human-centered approach and, through open collaboration and shared innovation, actively advances the development strategy driven by innovation to support the construction of Beijing as an international technology innovation center.

Technological innovation is the primary driver of economic development, and the Innovation Empowering Industrial Development International Forum has provided a bridge for cooperation in the field of technology innovation between China and South Africa. This forum not only helps to enhance the friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, but also offers a platform for scientists and engineers from both countries to discuss shared technological issues in-depth, share the latest scientific research achievements and experiences, further stimulate the innovation vitality of both nations, and promote breakthroughs in technology innovation.

China and South Africa have always been good friends, partners, and brothers. Strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries will also help them face global challenges, improve international competitiveness, and stimulate innovation vitality. With the joint efforts of both sides, we are confident that China-South Africa scientific and technological innovation cooperation will yield even more fruitful results, contributing to the continuous advancement of the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership and making a greater contribution to the building of a shared future for mankind and global scientific progress.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/iJomVCyjHQZ1-T3I6JdqFg