On the morning of 11 March, the inaugural meeting of the Academic Committee and Advisory Committee of the Tengchong Scientists Forum for 2026 convened in Beijing.

Academician Gu Binglin, Chairman of the Forum and former President of Tsinghua University; Academician Xu Zhihong, Co-Chairman of the Forum and former President of Peking University; Co-Chair and former President of Nankai University, Academician Rao Zihe, along with committee members including Mr Xu Rongkai, Academician Bai Chunli, Academician Chen Kaixian, Academician He Fuchu, Academician Yang Yuliang, Academician Zou Zhigang, Academician Fan Daiming, Academician Chen Jian, Academician Sun Hang, Academician Zheng Hairong, and Academician Wang Yongjun. Mr Gao Jun, Director of the Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Deputy Director of the Tengchong Scientists Forum Organising Committee, and Director of the Organising Committee Office; Mr Ma Minxiang, Vice President of the Yunnan Academy of Sciences and Deputy Director of the Tengchong Scientists Forum Organising Committee Office; Mr Chen Yu, Secretary-General and Director of the Yunnan Tengchong Scientists Forum Centre; and Mr Gu Wei, Deputy Director of the Yunnan Tengchong Scientists Forum Centre and Director of the Beijing Representative Office, attended the meeting. Li Jiaqiang, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Tengchong Scientists Forum Foundation, along with relevant officials from the Forum Organising Committee Office and Forum Centre, attended as non-voting participants. The meeting was chaired by Academician Xu Zhihong, Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Tengchong Scientists Forum. This session aimed to deliberate on the preparatory direction for the 2026 Tengchong Scientists Forum, the selection criteria for the Tengchong Science Prize, and the 2026 work plans for the Academic Committee and Advisory Committee. It sought to consolidate top-tier intellectual resources to propel the forum towards greater sophistication, higher standing, and enhanced influence.

This meeting aimed to deliberate on the preparatory direction for the 2026 Tengchong Scientists Forum, the selection criteria for the Tengchong Science Prize, and the 2026 work plans for the Academic Committee and Advisory Committee. It sought to pool top-tier intellectual resources to propel the forum towards greater sophistication, higher standing, and enhanced influence.

Strengthening High-Level Think Tank Capabilities to Consolidate the Forum's Academic Foundation

The meeting announced the newly appointed members of the Forum's Advisory Committee and Academic Committee. Academician Bai Chunli joined the Advisory Committee, while 15 academicians and experts including Xue Qikun, Pan Jianwei, Xie Xiaoliang, and Lo Yuk Ming joined the Academic Committee. This further enhances the Forum's academic support and strategic advisory capabilities, providing robust intellectual backing for establishing the ‘Davos of Science and Technology’.

Drafting the Forum Programme and Charting the Five-Year Development Blueprint

Bai Chunli, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Former President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Member of the Forum Advisory Committee

Xu Rongkai, Former Governor of Yunnan Provincial People's Government, Member of the Forum Advisory Committee

Zheng Hairong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Executive Vice President of Nanjing University, Member of the Forum Academic Committee

Wang Yongjun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, President of Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Member of the Forum Academic Committee

Secretary-General and Director of the Forum Centre, Chen Yu, delivered a progress report on the 2026 Tengchong Scientists Forum. He systematically reviewed the achievements of previous forums and provided a detailed overview of the 2026 forum's overall concept, programme arrangements, and supporting measures.

Following the presentation of the draft overall plan for the 2026 Tengchong Scientists Forum, committee members actively contributed suggestions on the forum's annual theme, sub-forum planning, international cooperation, and market-oriented operations, drawing upon cutting-edge developments across various scientific fields. These contributions provided crucial guidance for subsequent preparatory work.

During the meeting, committee members fully acknowledged the achievements of previous Tengchong Scientist Forums. They offered relevant suggestions regarding the selection criteria for the 2026 Tengchong Science Prize, as well as the 2026 work plans for the Academic Committee and Advisory Committee. They also expressed requirements and expectations for further enhancing the authority and influence of both the Tengchong Science Prize and the Tengchong Young Scientist Award.

Building Consensus to Jointly Enhance the Forum's Quality and Upgrading

Address by Gao Jun, Director of the Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Deputy Director of the Tengchong Scientists Forum Organising Committee, and Director of the Organising Committee Office

Gao Jun, Director of the Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Deputy Director of the Tengchong Scientists Forum Organising Committee, and Director of the Organising Committee Office, addressed the forum on behalf of the Organising Committee. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to all committee members for their long-standing dedicated guidance and steadfast support. He stated that this year's forum preparations would adhere to the overarching theme of ‘reaching for the heavens and grounding in reality’. ‘Reaching for the heavens’ would focus on national strategic directions, while ‘grounding in reality’ would support Yunnan's practical needs for high-quality development. Efforts would continue to expand the forum's international influence, refine its ecosystem, deepen practical exchanges and cooperation, and optimise service support. Higher standards and more concrete measures would be employed to propel the forum to new heights.

Address by Gu Binglin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Former President of Tsinghua University, and Chair of the Tengchong Scientists Forum

Address by Xu Zhihong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Former President of Peking University, and Co-Chair of the Tengchong Scientists Forum

Address by Rao Zihe, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Former President of Nankai University, and Co-Chair of the Tengchong Scientists Forum

In their concluding remarks, Academicians Gu Binglin, Xu Zhihong and Rao Zihe emphasised that 2026 marks a pivotal milestone as the forum's fifth anniversary. Efforts must continue to strengthen its academic core, solidify the transformation of research outcomes, and enhance international collaboration. By focusing on national strategies and leveraging Yunnan's comparative advantages, the fifth-anniversary forum should be developed into a landmark event showcasing China's scientific and technological prowess while serving global innovation development. 

The convening of this meeting holds significant importance for the smooth advancement of all preparatory work for the 2026 Tengchong Scientists Forum. Building upon this gathering, the forum will accelerate the refinement of its overall plan, advance guest invitations, deepen mechanisms for transforming research outcomes, and enhance conference support services. It will strive to establish a high-end scientific forum with Chinese characteristics and international standing, thereby contributing to the development of a science and technology powerhouse and serving the cause of high-level opening up.