Joined by over 12,000 enterprises from 153 countries and regions, the 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), under the theme “Towards Digital Future and Service Driven Development”, kicked off on 2 September 2021 in Beijing.
CIFTIS serves as a platform for China to share development opportunities with rest of the world. WFEO was invited for the first time to participate in the fair. During the Fair, The WFEO Engineering for Innovative Technologies Committee (WFEO-CEIT) on behalf of WFEO hosted an exhibition with the topic “Engineering Innovations for Sustainable Development” as well as two seminars.
Engineering Innovations for Sustainable Development Exhibition Held by WFEO
The exhibition was held at China National Convention Center in parallel with online activities by WFEO to publicize the UN Sustainable Development Goals to the public. Best practices of engineering innovations for sustainable development were showcased consistent with the 17 SDGs to promote excellent models of engineering for sustainability, and enhance cooperation and communication in the engineering circles in China and throughout the world.
The WFEO Exhibition Zone
The WFEO exhibition zone consists of three parts. 17 screens displaying the corresponding UN 2030 SDGs were set up in the first part of the exhibition. The best practices of engineering innovations for sustainable development from different sectors were collected at the initiative of WFEO-China and WFEO-CEIT, part of which were displayed on the screens to audiences. In the achievements exhibition and experience sharing zone, years of efforts made by WFEO to advance the SDGs with highlight on the World Engineering Day and its celebrations were introduced. The English and Chinese landmarked second UNESCO Engineering Report were exhibited in the third part of the zone together with the Engineering Innovations for Sustainable Development Best Practices. Besides, a 3D cloud exhibition was available on the CIFTIS website.
WFEO 3D Cloud Exhibition
Another two main events held during the exhibition were the forum for “Quality Geographic Products for Ecological and Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development” and the 2021 High-Level Seminar on Engineering Innovations in Services for Global Sustainable Development on 4 and 5 September respectively.
The Forum for “Quality Geographic Products for Ecological and Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development”
The Forum for “Quality Geographic Products for Ecological and Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development” displayed the great practices for Goal 15, Life on Land, exemplified the combination of green and sustainable development and conservation of the ecosystem by producing healthy goods in a harmless way, and additionally, add momentum to China’s trade on the global stage.
WFEO president Gong Ke, past Deputy Director-General of UNFAO He Changchui, researcher of Aerospace Information Research Institute, CAS, academician of CAS Tong Qingxi and experts and scholars form Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Geographical Society of China (GSC), Beijing Normal University and other institutes as well as guests from local governments and businesses attended the event. This forum was moderated by Liu Chuang, researcher of Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, member of Big Data and AI Working Group, WFEO-CEIT.
The High-Level Seminar on Engineering Innovations in Services for Global Sustainable Development
The High-Level Seminar on Engineering Innovations in Services for Global Sustainable Development opened on September 5. Past Vice President, academician of CAE Wu Hequan, WFEO President Gong Ke, President of Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development Hu Zhijian, academician of The World Academy of Sciences and Academia Europaea, Chair Professor of Xiamen University Lyu Yonglong, President of Intel Labs China(ILC) Song Jiqiang, together with other senior specialists from the government, industry, universities and institutes participated in the event.
Gong Ke, President of WFEO Gave An Opening Remark
The opening ceremony of this seminar was moderated by Peng Jing, Chair of WFEO-CEIT. WFEO President Gong Ke was invited and gave an opening remark at the seminar, emphasizing on the significance of trade and its imbalance between developed and developing countries while revealing its resilience during the pandemic, underpinned by the digital technology. To realize the 17 SDGs require mobilization of the whole society, in which trade has a critical role to play. To this end, he called upon, in particular, the science and engineering circle to leverage scientific and technological innovations for a sustained and healthy trade industry.
The seminar proceeded by three sessions based on three dimensions of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, namely economy, society and environment. The topics of each session are “Engineering Innovations for Economic New Driver for Sustainable Development”, “Engineering Innovations for the Sustainable Future” and “Engineering Innovations for Sustainable and Habitable Environment”.
In closing, the theme exhibition and two major events held by WFEO have accomplished great success. It has brought together scholars, officials and stakeholders to look into engineering solutions and cutting-edge technologies for sustainable development and promoted the concept of the SDGs to the public. With less the ten years to achieve the 2030 Agenda and its commitment, the service industry can possibly inject strong impetus to the course in which science, technology and engineering should be made the core of such endeavors.
The casebook “Engineering Innovations for Sustainable Development Best Practices” was exhibited on the China International Fair for Trade in Services 2021, and CEIT was responsible for compiling the content.
It contains 21 innovative practice cases based on 17 UN 2030 Sustainable development goals from the engineering community. It shows the practical achievements of engineering innovations in promoting sustainable development so as to enhance exchanges and cooperation, and promote excellent practices and solutions. It also aims to inspire colleagues in the engineering industry to think about their doings from the perspective of sustainable development.
SEP
2021