Twenty national scientific and research organizations from different countries and regions issued a declaration during the First International Science Forum of National Scientific Organizations on the Belt and Road Initiative in Beijing on November 7–8, 2016, which establishes bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation mechanism.

The declaration, "Beijing Declaration", calls for the efforts to strengthen cooperation in science, technology and innovation (STI) for the promotion of shared development, to build a platform of co-innovation and a long-term mechanism for STI cooperation, and to focus on major challenges and organize related international programs, on the basis of the timeless values of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit.

The establishment of a platform of co-innovation and a long-term mechanism for STI cooperation proposed in the declaration attracts great attention from international community, and is thought to better promote knowledge sharing and a win-win cooperation, deepen mutual communication on policy, and improve science and education capacity building.

According to the declaration, scientists along the Belt and Road countries will have more opportunities in the future. National academies, regional scientific, research and technological organizations along the Belt and Road will takes advantage of their multi-disciplinary and regional features to support and organize research programs in areas of strategic importance to the Belt and Road construction including resources, environment, economy, etc.

This declaration issues the first cooperation mechanism concerning national and regional science and innovation cooperation among countries and regions along the Belt and Road. All its participants will face challenges together in the guidance of the declaration and the cooperation mechanism.

Proposed by President XI Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative has received positive response and strong support from more than 120 countries and international organizations. Great achievements have been made including the establishment of the Silk Road Fund; the development of fast-train railways; the expansion of trade and business; a deepening of communication on policy and enhanced exchanges between people and cultures.