2025 World Science and Technology Development Forum convenes in Beijing: experts call for global AI collaboration to tackle global development challenges

2025-10-31

The 2025 World Science and Technology Development Forum (WSTDF), hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), convened recently in Beijing. Themed "AI for Science and Development," the three-day event gathered top scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the world to explore how AI can drive future industries and foster open global cooperation.

Major Achievement Release: China Leads in Sustainability Contribution 

A highlight of the forum was the release of five major scientific achievements, most notably the Global-Scale Sustainable Development Scientific Monitoring Report (2025), spearheaded by the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals.

The report provided a scientific "health check" on global progress toward the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The findings revealed a critical urgency: among 18 monitored indicators, only "wetland area" showed no net loss globally from 2015 to 2022. Eleven indicators face major challenges, with eight indicators—including food security, biodiversity, and ocean ecology—showing a clear trend of regression, highlighting the accumulation of systemic risks to global sustainable development.

In the assessment of national contributions, China ranked first globally in national contribution to these goals, with an average contribution of 5.84% across 15 autonomous indicators, joining Canada, Brazil, and Norway as a "positive contributor" to global sustainability.

Other released achievements included IUPAC's 2025 Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry, Research on the Application of Al Technology in the Hydrogen Energy Sector, Template for Smart Manufacturing Use Cases and Smart Manufacturing Guidelines for the Usage of New Technologies, and Open Knowledge and Data Sharing Platform —Open for Science.

Strategic Vision: AI as a Driver of Systemic Change 

In his opening address, Wan Gang, President of CAST, called on the global scientific community to pursue intelligence, green development, and integration. He emphasized that AI must be deeply integrated into sectors ranging from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and poverty reduction to accelerate the development of New Quality Productive Forces (innovation-driven productivity), making technological innovation the core force driving systematic socioeconomic transformation.

Expert Insights: From Research Accelerator to Governance Challenge 

The forum featured robust debate on the role of AI, moving beyond hype to practical application and governance.

•    On Industry Impact: Xu Xun, a Fellow of the EngNZ (Engineering New Zealand) and a professor at the University of Auckland, cited the DeepSeek model developed in China as an example of AI creating wide-ranging impact. "For manufacturing, this is not just a conceptual innovation, but a tangible opportunity for technology landing," Xu noted, highlighting the convergence of simulation, Big Data, and Digital Twins.

•    On Risks and Ethics: Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences and a recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2024, warned that while AI acts as a research accelerator, it is not infallible. "AI can amplify human bias," Dirks stated. He argued that ethical guidelines alone are insufficient: "We need to treat AI like we nurture human intelligence—mining its potential while facing its shortcomings. The core solution lies in the deep, continuous interaction between human wisdom and machine intelligence."

•    On Governance: Michael Meadows, Professor in the School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University emphasized that the only path to effective AI management is through a "prudent yet flexible governance framework" built on deep collaboration within the global scientific community, which must be based on shared ethical principles and safety norms while remaining open.

Fostering an Open Global Ecosystem

"Open cooperation" was a frequently mentioned term at the forum, with participants agreeing that international collaboration is essential for addressing technological challenges and promoting AI for the common good. Bill Moran, Publisher of the Science Family of Journals of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), noted that CAST and AAAS are engaging in specific dialogues regarding AI and policy. "Open cooperation is key because the progress of technology and public trust in it ultimately serve social development," Moran said.

In recent years, several international sci-tech organizations, such as the International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association and the World Robot Cooperation Organization, have been established in China. Mohammad S. Obaidat, a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and former President of the Society for Modeling and Simulation International (SCS), described this trend as a natural progression. "China’s leadership in electric vehicles, e-commerce, and world-class infrastructure makes it an ideal hub for international organizations to deepen their roots in Asia and radiate globally," Obaidat observed.

This article is an English adaptation of a report originally published by Economic Information Daily. It has been summarized and localized for an international audience.