On June 11, 2025, the 2nd Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange opened in Chengdu, Sichuan. Lu Jianhua, Vice President of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), attended the opening ceremony and witnessed the release of several significant achievements.

The opening ceremony brought together approximately 1,500 representatives from domestic and foreign governments, scientific institutions, enterprises, and international organizations. Eight major outcomes were unveiled during the event, including: Release of the National Innovation Index Report 2024 (English version); Support for Chinese scientists in initiating the International Meridian Circle Big Science Program; Launch of the Belt and Road Special Cooperation Program on Artificial Intelligence Technology Innovation; Launch of the Belt and Road Special Cooperation Program on Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Innovation; Initiation the fourth batch of Belt and Road Joint Laboratory construction projects; Establishment of five Belt and Road Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Alliances in the fields of science parks, spatial information technology, low-carbon technology, agricultural technology, and public health technology; Launch of the Belt and Road International Technology Transfer Center in China’s Chengdu-Chongqing region; Initiation of the Belt and Road "Double Thousand" Science and Technology Cooperation Program in the Chengdu-Chongqing region. These eight outcomes cover a wide range of fields and carry significant impact, injecting strong momentum into the construction of the "Innovation Silk Road."

The conference was co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the China Association for Science and Technology, the NSFC, the People’s Government of Sichuan Province, and the People’s Government of Chongqing Municipality. It focused on key topics such as policy alignment in science and technology planning, academic exchanges, industrial innovation, international mega-science programs, technology-driven poverty alleviation, artificial intelligence, and traditional Chinese medicine. The conference featured 38 activities across five categories: flagship events, thematic sessions, specialized forums, roundtable discussions, and technology matchmaking. The conference aimed to build an open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial mechanism for regular exchanges, with the goal of constructing a Belt and Road science and technology innovation partnership network. It sought to effectively promote the transformation and application of scientific achievements, ensuring that technological innovations bring tangible benefit to people across nations and providing robust scientific and technological support for the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Fan Yingjie, Director-General of the NSFC’s Bureau of International Cooperation, and Chen Qizhen, Deputy Director of the Administrative Center for China's Agenda 21, attended the opening ceremony and plenary session.