On November 15, the 2024 Xili Lake Forum opened at the Shenzhen University Town International Convention Center. Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Li Jiachao, Representative of Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region and Secretary for Economic and Financial Affairs Li Weinong, Mayor of Shenzhen Qin Weizhong, and Assistant Director General of WIPO Andrew Stans delivered speeches.

Yin Hejun, on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Technology, congratulated the convening of the forum. He said that the construction of Xili Lake International Science and Education City and the holding of Xili Lake Forum are important measures for the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education, Guangdong Province and Shenzhen to implement the central decision-making and deployment, standing at a new starting point, the Ministry of Science and Technology will further strengthen cooperation with Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and effectively play a leading role in supporting scientific and technological innovation in Shenzhen's construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics demonstration zone. To develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into an international centre of science and technology innovation with global influence at a high level, and make new and greater contributions to achieving self-reliance in science and technology at a high level and building a world power in science and technology.

Li Jiachao said that the Xili Lake Forum has promoted the exchange of scientific and creative talents in the Greater Bay Area, reflecting the deep cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in scientific and technological innovation. The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to work with Shenzhen and other cities in the Greater Bay Area to promote the construction of major platforms, promote the cross-border flow of innovation factors, accelerate the formation of a concentration of high-end scientific and creative talents, and help the Greater Bay Area become an important innovation base for the country to participate in the development of advanced industries in the world, and contribute to the development of the country into a world power in science and technology.

Li Weinong said that Macao will continue to give full play to its advantages in international exchanges and cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries and countries jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, gather global innovation resources, and work with other cities in the Greater Bay Area to promote the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and inject new impetus and make new contributions to the development of the national science and technology industry.

We will promote the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain and talent chain, accelerate the construction of an industrial science and technology innovation center with global influence, and make positive contributions to China's building of a strong education, science and technology country and a strong talent country.

Andrew Staines said that the permanent theme of the Lake Xili Forum is in line with the philosophy of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Wipo looks forward to working with all partners in China and around the world to harness the power of IP, innovation and creativity to build a more sustainable world.

At the opening ceremony, seven major achievements including the Spatial Planning Outline of Xili Lake International Science and Education City were also released, and speeches were made by Baidu founder Robin Li, 2015 Turing Award winner Martin Edward Herman, and Piero Scarufi, founder of Silicon Valley Artificial Intelligence Institute.

Under the permanent theme of "Innovation · Sustainable Development", the 2023 Xili Lake Forum takes "Frontier · Change · Connection" as the annual theme, highlighting frontier leadership, innovation and change, central-local collaboration, and Bay Area resonance, inviting experts and scholars in various fields, business representatives and innovative talents, etc. Discuss the development trend of openness and integration, share the achievements of cutting-edge scientific and technological innovation, and share the responsibility and mission of scientific and technological self-reliance.