Dear colleagues and friends, ladies and gentlemen,

Though I had an important government meeting I could not escape earlier this morning, I tried my best to come back to this one as it is such a significant and attractive one. Having just heard the summaries from each subgroup makes me feel particularly good on my decision of returning to the meeting in my best ability and to my best benefit.

To sum up the fruits of this meeting, I have the following reflections:

First, we now all have a better understanding on the significance and importance of the Belt and Road Initiative advocated by China to the benefits and shared prosperity of the countries along the Belt and Road regions and much beyond.

I think our international colleagues particularly have this feeling. The Belt and Road vision, though a proposal by China, aims to promote shared development and common prosperity with the partner countries. (Indeed mutual benefit is the driving force behind the success and the future successes.)

Second, we have further enhanced our consensus on the important basic, strategic and leading role that science, technology and innovation play and should play in understanding and providing solutions to diverse complex and common development challenges in the Belt and Road development. STI, as major drivers for social economic progress, should be the priority areas for cooperation.

We have also confirmed that we scientific communities should focus on the major, pressing scientific challenges and try to mobilize both the public and private sectors to jointly address diverse development challenges.

Thirdly, the national and regional scientific, technological and research organizations present at the forum unanimously agree to issue the Beijing Declaration. (We had a closed session attended by all participating organizations and discussed the details on the declaration.)

We agree to release it today to get our voice heard and aloud. This declaration will guide our future actions.

In addition to stating the two points mentioned above, the document includes our agreement and commitment to establishing a long-term effective Belt and Road cooperation mechanism to facilitate and help organize major cooperation programs and activities in R&D, strategic advice, policy and capacity buildings for common benefits.

To make this mechanism work and work well, we agree to form a working group to iron out the operation details based on future communications.

We also agree on a forum scheme like this one we are holding. We agree to have a kind of event like this every two years. We commit to making it a landmark event with joint efforts. We also agree to establish the Alliance of International Scientists for the Belt and Road. Those scientists present the Forum today and yesterday will be a part of the scientists alliance.

A number of the participating organizations expressed the concern of letting the mechanism fall into similarity to other international organizations---mechanisms without much substance. We agree to make special efforts to make this one different. With the tremendous substance of the Belt and Road vision and all the activities we aim to promote, I can assure you this mechanism is bound to contain lots of pragmatic and concrete programs and actions to the benefits of us all.

Fourthly, we have further consolidated the mutual understanding, trust and friendship within this scientific community, which is of fundamental importance to our current and future cooperation for shared benefits. Though we have been together for only about two days, we are like long-term friends and brothers.

Throughout the forum, the delegates and participants have made a lot of valuable points and suggestions on our future cooperation and answered all the questions I raised at the opening of the forum. I want to thank you all for your thoughts and wisdoms exchanged, for your participation and listening.

I do want to acknowledge the contributions of a number of specially invited speakers for their excellent and enlightening presentations, of all the other speakers and chairs for their contributions and input. My special acknowledgement also goes to our co-organizers and all institutional participants. Thank you all.

Concluding the forum is not the end, as clearly explained above, but a new beginning of more efforts and hard work to make our mechanism and cooperation to truly serve mutual benefits, shared development and common prosperity. Let us all, either from the regions or other regions, either from the developing or developed, work hand in hand to make a better world and better future with science, technology and innovations.

Let me conclude, on behalf of CAS and other co-organizers, by expressing my deep thanks to all those involved in the organization of the Forum, particularly to my colleagues in the organizing committee for what a wonderful meeting we have had, and by wishing you-our international guests either a continuous pleasant stay and an enjoyable trip back home.