Sci-tech innovation is providing critical support for sustainable development in Belt and Road partner countries, according to scientists and senior officials at a recent international conference.

Insights on the topic were shared during the ANSO (the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions) General Conference on Science and Innovation, which concluded in Beijing on Wednesday. The conference was a key event held alongside the fourth ANSO General Assembly, gathering nearly 300 experts and scholars from over 50 countries and regions, including representatives of eight international organizations and 55 ANSO member institutions.

ANSO is an international non-profit, non-governmental scientific organization that was founded in 2018 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and other international institutions in the fields of science and education around the world.

The conference, themed "Science and Innovation for a Sustainable Future," facilitated discussions on pressing global issues, including how open science and innovation can drive inclusive development, how science and technology can promote sustainable development, how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve people's livelihoods, and the role of youth as a bridge to a shared future.

ANSO President Sukit Limpijumnong, who is also president of Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency, emphasized the importance of international partnership in this endeavor. "While global scientific collaboration is essential to this effort, occasional rifts have slowed our collective work. This is precisely why dialogue and partnership matter more than ever," he said.

He outlined ANSO's role in fostering "an open, inclusive platform that unites expertise across nations -- from supporting communities in developing clean water solutions to empowering farmers to strengthen food security -- all to advance both global sustainability and the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative."

He Hongping, vice president of both ANSO and CAS, detailed the concrete contributions that have been made through this collaboration. He noted that the extensive research capabilities of CAS, including over 100 research institutes and dozens of world-class mega-science facilities, are instrumental in advancing ANSO's mission of building the scientific capacity of the developing world and promoting science-based sustainable development for humanity.

Over the past six years, the partnership between CAS and ANSO has yielded significant results, including seed grants for more than 100 international collaborative research programs focusing on climate resilience, food security and public health, He said.

CAS has also sponsored over 200 international conferences and workshops, most of which have been held in developing nations, and offered visiting fellowships at CAS laboratories to more than 300 international researchers. It has also provided over 3,000 scholarships to young international students -- primarily students from Belt and Road regions -- to pursue master's or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

"Looking ahead, CAS will continue to provide overall support for ANSO's growth and development," He affirmed. "We look forward to strengthening our partnership and concrete collaborations with other members to achieve ANSO's objectives in promoting global sustainability through sci-tech innovation."

The conference also saw the launch of an international AI development and governance research network. The network aims to establish a platform for exchange and cooperation on global AI development and governance studies, inviting experts from ANSO member institutions to work collaboratively to address the technical challenges, ethical risks and governance dilemmas posed by AI development.

Source: english.www.gov.cn