The 2019 “Talents Gathering” Forum & Global Talent Summit was held in the Talents‑Gathering Hall, Friendship Palace, Beijing Friendship Hotel on January 19.

Hosted by the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association and co‑hosted by the China International Technology Transfer Center and Zhongguancun Federation of Social Organizations, the summit took place at Beijing Friendship Hotel on January 19. Nearly 600 participants attended, including heads of more than 40 overseas talent organizations from over 30 countries, over 100 high‑level overseas experts and outstanding returned overseas talents, numerous outstanding international students in China, recipients of the Chinese Government Friendship Award and representatives of international friends, as well as delegates from local talent authorities, science parks and enterprises. The event received guidance and support from the Service Center for Overseas Scholars and Experts of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Chinese Overseas Returnees Service Alliance.

Under the theme “Gather Global Talents, Create Great Undertakings of Our Times”, the summit aims to fully implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s strategic vision to “gather and make good use of the best talent under heaven”. Rooted in the new‑era context and a new starting point for reform and opening‑up, it builds an international platform for talent exchanges and cooperation centering on the “Three Firsts”, in particular the proposition that “strength comes from innovation and innovation relies on talent”. It bolsters innovation‑driven development and the transition between old and new growth drivers, and delivers robust talent and intellectual support for advancing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

The event consisted of three major sessions: the “Talents Gathering” Forum, the Global Talent Summit, and the Global Talents Friendship Gala. At the “Talents Gathering” Forum, Ma Junru, Vice‑President and Academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and former Director‑General of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, delivered an important speech on Innovation and Talent. Wu Jiang, member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, talent expert and former President of the Chinese Academy of Personnel Science, gave a keynote speech titled Firmly Establish the Strategic Position of Talent‑driven Development in the New Era. Multiple talent experts, heads of sci‑tech innovation institutions and outstanding international‑student representatives shared insights in three sub‑forums: Global Talent Exchanges and Cooperation at the New Starting Point of a New Era, Attracting and Facilitating Returned Overseas Talents for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in China, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship among International Students in China.

Ma Junru, Vice‑President and Academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and former Director‑General of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, together with other guests, unveiled the Foreign Academician Workstation Service Center.

During the subsequent Global Talent Summit, Ding Zhifeng, Executive President and Secretary‑General of the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association, delivered a keynote report entitled Building a Platform for Global Talent Exchanges. The ceremony for unveiling the Foreign Academician Workstation Service Center was held, alongside the joint release of the Industry Code of Integrity Service by foreign‑teacher intermediary service agencies, and a signing ceremony with the China Strategic Cooperation Center of the New South Wales Department of Education.

At the Global Talents Friendship Gala, the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association awarded honorary certificates of Global Talent Exchange Ambassador to three recipients of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, and issued certificates of Special Expert of the Foreign Experts Advisory Committee to 21 foreign experts.

Mark Levine, recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, and many other international friends jointly sang the Anthem of Global Talents, strengthening Sino‑foreign friendship and cooperation.

The Special Committee for Foreign‑Teacher Talents under the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association, together with representatives from 56 foreign‑teacher intermediary service agencies, jointly released the Industry Code of Integrity Service.