The main forum of the 28th Annual Meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) was held in Beijing on July 15. Wang Guangqian, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and president of CAST, attended the forum and delivered a speech. He Junke, secretary of the leading Party members group, executive vice-chairman and first secretary of the Secretariat of CAST, presided over the event.

Wang called for efforts to strengthen basic research to consolidate the foundations for major scientific breakthroughs, promote deeper integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation to accelerate the development of new growth drivers, cultivate young sci-tech talent to provide strong support for building China into a leading country in science and technology, and expand high-level opening-up and cooperation to jointly build a global innovation ecosystem.

At the forum, CAST released its 2026 major scientific questions, engineering and technological challenges and industrial technology problems. Four scientists delivered keynote speeches on topics including fundamental science, brain-computer interfaces, hydrogen energy, and embodied intelligence.

More than 550 participants attended the forum, including sci-tech professionals from 152 national academic societies and international sci-tech organizations, universities and research institutions, as well as representatives from Hong Kong and Macao sci-tech communities and officials from CAST and provincial science and technology associations.

The 28th Annual Meeting of CAST, themed "Seizing the Commanding Heights, Generating New Momentum, Providing Scientific and Technological Support for Chinese Modernization", is running from July 1 to 31 in Beijing.

Jointly organized by 95 national academic societies, 46 provincial academic societies, 18 university science and technology associations, and eight provincial science and technology associations, the annual meeting features one main forum, three parallel forums and 118 themed forums. It also includes sessions for achievement releases, science communication and popularization, exhibitions and interactive application demonstrations.