On December 22, the 2020 “Talents Gathering” Forum & Global Talent Summit was successfully held at Beijing Friendship Hotel. More than 500 participants were present, including representatives of expert and talent‑focused organisations from over 30 countries, leaders and experts from relevant Chinese central ministries, heads of local talent and science‑technology authorities, representatives from universities and research institutes, high‑tech zones and development zones, high‑tech enterprises, foreign academicians and experts, international students in China, returned overseas talents, as well as delegates from the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other Beijing‑based institutions. Hosted by the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association and the China Technology Entrepreneurship Association, the event received guidance and support from the Chinese Overseas Returnees Service Alliance, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Talent Affairs and Zhongguancun Science Park Administrative Committee.

Under the theme “Gather Global Talents, Create Great Undertakings of Our Times”, the summit aims to thoroughly implement the guiding spirit from the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, together with General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions to “gather and make good use of the best talent under heaven” and “strengthen international talent exchanges and cooperation”. It brings together outstanding global talents to discuss key development issues, boost exchanges and collaboration, and rally global talent to advance the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Xia Wenfeng, Director of the Service Center for Overseas Scholars and Experts of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, attended and delivered an address.

The summit comprised three sessions: the “Talents Gathering” Forum, the Global Talent Summit, and the Global Talents Friendship Gathering. During the “Talents Gathering” Forum, Ma Junru, former Director‑General of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, Academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and Vice‑Chairman of its China Centre, delivered a keynote speech on the globalisation of innovation.

Speranskiy Anatoly Alexeyevich, Vice‑President of the Russian Academy of Engineering; Liu Minhua, Deputy Director of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Talent Affairs; Xia Chenge, Deputy Director of Hainan Provincial Talent Development Bureau; Li Zhilei, Director of the Talent Division of the Zhongguancun Administrative Committee; Hu Bengang, Chairman of the Public Policy Research Centre of the State Council Counsellors’ Office; and Zhang Yihe, Dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Academician of the Russian Academy of Engineering, together with many other Chinese and foreign experts and heads of talent institutions, shared insightful presentations across three sub‑forums: Exchanges and Cooperation between Foreign Academicians, Senior Experts and China, Belt and Road Initiative and Localised Talent Support for Chinese Enterprises Going Global, and Serving the Nation through Overseas Study and New Endeavours in the New Era.

At the Global Talent Summit, multiple ceremonies were staged: the launch of the 2020 “Outstanding Global Talents · Returned‑Talent Innovation Projects” Collection and Promotion Campaign, the roll‑out ceremony for the Sino‑Russian Talent Exchange and S&T Cooperation Action Plan, the signing and unveiling ceremony for the Chinese‑language Training Centre for Foreign Talents’ Employment and Entrepreneurship, as well as signing ceremonies for five major cooperation projects. Ding Zhifeng, Executive President and Secretary‑General of the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association, presented a work report and outlook titled Building a Platform for Global Talent Exchanges to Advance Talent Opening‑up and Scientific‑Technological Cooperation in the New Era.

At the Global Talents Friendship Gathering, the unveiling ceremony for “Beijing Home for International Friends” took place. As China’s first service institution dedicated to international friends and foreign talents, it actively optimises the working environment for foreign talents in China and supports Beijing’s development as an international centre for scientific‑technological innovation and international exchanges. Three international friends, Huang Wanbi, Nakamura Kyoko and Jiang Guozhen, were awarded honorary certificates as Senior Advisors. Michael Crook, recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award and Chairman of the International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives, and other foreign‑talent representatives delivered speeches.

Ma Junru, former Director‑General of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and Chief Senior Expert of the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association, awarded the honorary certificate of Global Talent Meritorious Figure to Professor Isabel Crook, renowned educator, recipient of both the Chinese Government Friendship Award and the Friendship Medal. The Association held a heart‑felt birthday celebration for the 104‑year‑old distinguished international friend, conveying the Chinese people’s affection and respect for her.

Certificates were also conferred upon other awardees: the title of Global Talent Exchange Ambassador went to David G. Evans, Michael Crook and Erik Nilsson, three recipients of the Chinese Government Friendship Award; ten foreign‑expert representatives received certificates as Special Foreign Experts of Global Talents. Three academicians from Russia and Ukraine plus three returned overseas talents were honoured as Senior Experts. Chinese and foreign guests joined together to sing the Anthem of Global Talents, deepening Sino‑foreign exchanges, friendship and cooperation.