The camel bells are long and the Silk Road is long. Thousands of years later, technology has become a footnote to the era of the "Belt and Road".

The second Belt and Road Science and Technology Exchange Conference is themed on the theme of "Constructing the Road to Innovation, Promoting Cooperation and Development - Working together to build a 'Belt and Road' Science and Technology Innovation Community". The conference strengthens exchanges, builds consensus, and deepens cooperation, and will further provide strong scientific and technological support for the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road.

The grand event is magnificent and the origin is extraordinary. On October 18, 2023, President Xi Jinping announced at the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum that China will continue to implement the Belt and Road Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan and hold the first Belt and Road Science and Technology Exchange Conference.

After half a month, the first conference was grandly kicked off in Chongqing. Nearly 1,000 domestic and foreign guests from more than 80 countries and international organizations gathered in the mountain city to talk about innovation and development. That year, Chongqing took decisive action, turning the opportunity at "at your doorstep" into the advantage of "re-starting", reached important scientific and technological cooperation intentions with many countries, and explored new paths and models of "going out" and "bringing in". This time, the Second Belt and Road Science and Technology Exchange Conference was launched in Chengdu, and the Chengdu-Chongqing region once again explored innovation paths.

The joint holding of the "Belt and Road" science and technology exchange conference is a major and important event written into the "Outline of the Construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin Cities Economic Circle". In the past two years, the two sides have fully utilized their regional characteristics and continued to deepen international cooperation - from signing more than 70 new scientific and technological cooperation agreements, to implementing more than 300 international joint R&D projects, to being approved to build the first "Belt and Road" international technology transfer center in the country... The two places work together and drive dual-core, and the western hinterland has gradually become a frontier of innovation, accumulating huge momentum for the joint construction of the "Belt and Road".

When the technological light of the "Belt and Road" illuminates Bashu, the future of innovation and progress is vividly revealed on paper. Under the complex situation of the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, scientific and technological innovation has become a strategic consensus among all parties, and guests from more than 100 countries and international organizations have once again chosen the Chinese solution. Taking advantage of the momentum and living up to expectations, this conference is iteratively upgraded based on the achievements of the first conference: 9 themed activities, 11 special activities, 8 roundtables, and 5 docking activities, covering key areas of science and technology innovation such as spatial information and artificial intelligence, and building a valuable stage for enterprises to find technology and market results. The light of bundles of technology is not limited to region or hindered from language, dispelling the shadows for mutual benefit and win-win results for all parties, and also witnessing the brilliant appearance of the Chengdu-Chongqing region on the international science and technology innovation stage.

When the technological light of the "Belt and Road" illuminates Bashu, the figure of daring to be the first becomes clearer. Two years later, the conference will return to Chongqing again. "A blacksmith must be strong himself." Only with the ability to organize the meeting will you be more confident. At present, Chongqing is closely following the "416" scientific and technological innovation layout and deeply building the "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system. In 2024, Chongqing's new energy vehicle production reached 953,000, the output of integrated circuits increased by more than 1 times, and the output value of synthetic materials, AI and robots maintained double-digit growth... The data is a proof of Chongqing's strength; Chongqing is a microcosm of the leap in the west. Technological innovation requires sincere exchanges and cooperation, and even more so, unremittingly overcome difficulties. Chongqing, which has always been "daring to chew tough problems", will surely amaz new and old friends again in the near future.

There is no end to cooperation, and innovation will never stop. From the city of mountains and rivers to the country of Tianfu, the technological light of the "Belt and Road" reflects the coordinated beauty of the western land. This year, the excitement is being staged; the next year, we will meet in Chongqing!