A forum on sustainable development was held in Jinan, Shandong Province. Photo: SDNU

By ZHANG JIE

As economic globalization has progressed, countries have become increasingly interdependent in terms of economy, politics, society and culture, while issues of global concern have ensued. How to achieve sustainable development has become a common issue for governments and the international community. From May 9 to 10, a forum on sustainable development was held in Jinan, Shandong Province. Scholars conducted in-depth discussions on related issues and gave suggestions.

Innovation stimulates the transformation of economic development mode and is the only way towards sustainable development. Su Haihong, deputy director-general of the Department of Science and Technology for Social Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, said that since reform and opening up, especially from the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China onwards, science and technology have provided strong support to China’s sustainable development. In a circular on the plan to build demonstration zones nationwide in an effort to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the State Council pointed out that during the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan, about 10 national demonstration zones should be built and typical patterns for sustainable growth should be formulated. The aim is to play an exemplary and leading role for other areas’ sustainable development at home and abroad.

Qi Rang, former vice president of the China Association for Science and Technology, said that to implement the innovation-driven development strategy, it is necessary to raise people’s scientific literacy, strengthen the independent innovation capacity, and achieve integrated development of science and technology, economy and the society. We should enhance our confidence in innovation, integrate resources, combine our strength, and establish a sound mechanism for applying innovation. Meanwhile, we should deepen the reform of the system for science and technology, strengthen the principal position of enterprises in technological innovation, and transform passive innovation into active innovation. In addition, we should establish a sound system for technological management; promote the integration of the innovation chain, the industrial chain and market demands; and improve talent cultivation for technological innovation.

China thinks highly of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provides knowledge and experience in promoting sustainable growth both in theory and practice. Wu Hongbo, former deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, said that many ideas put forward by China have contributed to a new model for global sustainable development, such as the idea of building a global community of a shared future, the idea that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” and the Belt and Road initiative, which not only transforms China’s development mode, but also provides positive reference for other countries.