On September 21, the 8th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo, themed "Science and Technology Innovation: Open Cooperation", kicked off in Mianyang. This is the first major national-level exhibition since the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic. Wu Weihua, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, attended the opening ceremony and declared the opening of the Expo. Peng Qinghua, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, Miao Shaobo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Jarno Syrjälä, Finnish Ambassador to China, delivered speeches. Yin Li, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, presided over the opening ceremony.

　　A brief and wonderful science and technology show lifted the curtain of the opening ceremony. In his speech, Peng Qinghua, on behalf of the provincial party committee and the provincial government, first welcomed the leaders at present and all the guests who participate in the online and offline activities, and thanked friends from all walks of life who have long supported the development of Sichuan. He said that the world is undergoing a great change that was not seen in the past century. A new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation are accelerating. Especially the COVID-19 epidemic has brought profound changes to the world political and economic patterns. Nevertheless, economic globalization and scientific and technological internationalization are irresistible historical trends. In the face of the complicated world situation, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made the strategic planning of "accelerating the formation of a new development pattern dominated by domestic circulation and supported by domestic-international double circulation" with great foresight; he pointed out that how to trigger new development momentum with scientific and technological innovation is a major issue related to the overall development of our country and the key to the formation of domestic circulation; he stressed the need to strengthen international scientific and technological cooperation, actively integrate into the global innovation network, and enhance our scientific and technological innovation ability in open cooperation. These major arrangements and instructions fully reflect China's confidence in addressing risks and challenges, demonstrate China's wisdom and responsibility in promoting the development of the world economy, and provide guidelines and fundamental basis for us to promote scientific and technological innovation and deepen exchanges and cooperation.

　　Peng Qinghua pointed out that Sichuan has been hailed as a land of abundance, and that we have innovation genes since ancient times. In the pre-Qin period, Li Bing and his son built Dujiangyan Water Conservancy Project; in the Western Han Dynasty, Luoxia Hong created Taichu calendar; in the Southern Song Dynasty, Qin Jiushao wrote Mathematical Treatise in Nine Sections; after the founding of New China, "Bombs and one satellite", "Hualong No.1" nuclear power equipment, 50,000kW heavy gas turbine, million kW water turbine generator set and other "heavy weapons of the country" were successively born in Sichuan, leaving distinct Sichuan imprints on the science and technology history of China and even the world. Into the new era, Sichuan is moving forward firmly in accordance with the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, achieving positive results in the construction of a leading province of national innovation-driven development. Scientific and technological innovation has significantly promoted local economic and social development as the main powerhouse of high-quality development in Sichuan. On a new journey, the CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to and places great expectations on Sichuan's innovation and development. At the beginning of this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over the sixth meeting of the Financial and Economic Commission of the CPC Central Committee and gave an important speech, which upgraded the construction of Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle into a national strategy and established the strategic objective of "building a national influential science and technology innovation center". This is a precious historical opportunity for Sichuan's innovation and development, and also provides a broad stage for innovative talent at home and abroad to show their skills in Sichuan. We are ready to work together with you to build Western China Science City to expand China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City and Chengdu Science City under the "one city, multiple parks" pattern, and create cradles of science and technology innovation, industrial innovation application fields and open innovation demonstration areas; we will work together to promote military-civilian science and technology innovation, strengthen joint efforts in cutting-edge areas of science and technology, and get deeply engaged in the construction of industrial bases for nuclear energy and technology applications, aviation and aerospace, and other military-civilian integrated high technology; we will work together to build a modern industrial system and a group of "new infrastructure" facilities and digitalized plants, such as 5G and data centers to enable industries with science and technology innovation and to improve quality for development; we will work together to cultivate the subjects of innovation and entrepreneurship, attract more resource elements and "super brains" to join Sichuan innovation matrix, and create an integrated innovation system integrating science and technology, education, industry and finance. We will continue to create good market environment, legal environment, government environment and living environment to provide fertile soil for innovation enterprises to thrive and develop.

　　Miao Shaobo congratulated on the successful holding of the expo on behalf of the organizations and the member units of the Coordination Group of the Ministry of Science and Technology. He said that Mianyang is the only science and technology city in China approved by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and is shouldering the important mission of exploring ways, summing up experience and demonstration for implementing innovation-driven development strategy and building an innovative country. This expo is presented in new ways and forms. Modern network technology is used to combine online and offline activities. During the expo, cloud-based high-tech products and technology exhibitions and high-end forums on scientific and technological innovation will be held. This expo will certainly present a high-standard, high-quality and multi-element international science and technology feast.

　　Jarno Syrjälä spoke highly of Sichuan's achievements in epidemic prevention and control. He said the successful holding of the expo proves that China's economy is accelerating recovery, and also sets up an important platform for deepening cooperation between the two countries. Global innovation cooperation is not a zero-sum game. Finland attaches great importance to the establishment of long-term cordial relations with China and its provinces/regions/cities around scientific and technological innovation. We are willing to take this exposition as an opportunity to promote mutual benefits and win-win results in the fields of intelligent manufacturing, advanced medicine, smart energy and so on.

　　Subsequently, Wu Weihua announced the opening of the 8th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International High-Tech Expo.

　　Wang Yongle, a consultant of All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese; Pi Mingyong, Vice President of the Academy of Military Sciences; Liu Gang, Chief Engineer of China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center; Li Hua, Vice President of the China Association for Science and Technology; Li Lanjuan and Ouyang Xiaoping, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; provincial leaders Wang Yihong, Huang Xinchu, Li Gang and Chen Fang; representatives of relevant ministries and commissions of the state, relevant departments of the military commission as well as some provinces and cities, universities, research institutes, international organizations, and well-known enterprises at home and abroad; representatives of the consulates-generals of ROK, Austria, Poland, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan, the Czech Republic, Uruguay, France, Italy, Australia, Hungary and Japan to Chengdu, Chongqing and Kunming, China, attended the opening ceremony.