In this file photo on May 23, 2020 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits national political advisors from the economic sector attending a joint panel discussion at the third session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Zhongguancun Forum－a key national platform for opening-up and innovation－via video on Friday night.
The speech, to be broadcast live by China Central Television, will be the second time Xi has conveyed his messages to the forum, which was launched in 2007.
The speech, to be broadcast live by China Central Television, will be the second time President Xi Jinping has conveyed his messages to the forum
He sent a congratulatory message to the forum in 2019, highlighting the significance of hosting the forum to enable discussions on cutting-edge technology, future industry growth trends and ways to help nations share innovative ideas and development concepts.
This year's forum, under the theme of Intelligence, Health and Carbon Neutrality, will run from Friday through Tuesday.
ALSO READ: Xi calls for jointly addressing global challenges at UNGA
The event will include conferences, technology transactions, innovation competitions, exhibitions and other activities. It will bring together foreign leaders, the world's top scientists and Nobel Prize winners as well as business leaders and investors, Jin Wei, vice-mayor of Beijing, said at a news briefing earlier this month.
Zhongguancun, an area in northwestern Beijing often referred to as China's "Silicon Valley", is home to the country's top universities, research institutions and high-tech companies.
READ MORE: Beijing firms up its ambitions in technology and innovation