Since China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), Beijing has actively promoted high-level international exchanges and cooperation in the field of science and technology, said Yang Song, deputy director of International Cooperation Department of Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Zhongguancun Administrative Committee.

The capital city currently has 189 foreign-funded enterprises with research and development (R&D) functions, the official said on Tuesday at a press conference ahead of the Zhongguancun Forum, which will be held from September 22 to 27 in Beijing.

Zhongguancun, once an "electronics street," has now become Zhongguancun Science Park – leading trends in global technological innovation. In the historical process of China's innovation and development, Zhongguancun lead the way, colleges and universities took root, scientific research institutes flourished, and high-tech enterprises are developed and upgraded rapidly.

The Zhongguancun Forum was launched in 2007. It is a platform for countries to discuss frontier innovation-driven development, future industrial development trends, global innovation rules and innovative governance. 

In 2021, the forum was upgraded to a national-level platform for global exchanges and cooperation in scientific and technological innovation. Representatives from 140 international organizations and innovative institutions, and more than 1,000 guests from 66 countries and regions had in-depth exchanges at the event, and a total of 100,000 people participated online and in-person, Yang told the press.

The official said, Beijing will advance the pilot reform in Zhongguancun, promote the efficient flow of international talents, technology and capital, and enhance international innovative cooperation to attract top international scientists and foreign-invested R&D centers to come to the city. 

Yang said, Beijing will also continue to host international science and technology exchange activities, including the China-Italy Innovation Cooperation Week, and support exchange activities of top international academic journals Cell, Science and Nature.