The sixth China Innovation Forum--China Civil Engineering Innovation Forum was held in Beijing Jiaotong University on Sept 7.

Chen Feng, vice-president of Beijing Jiaotong University, speaks at the sixth China Innovation Forum--China Civil Engineering Innovation Forum in Beijing on Sept 7. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The forum featured topics and discussions on civil engineering innovation achievements, frontier development, industrial trends, rail transport, construction technology and building design. Leading academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and experts in the sector were invited to share their visions at the forum.

Liu Fengsong, Secretary of the Party Committee of China Science Daily, said in a speech that his institute has been committed to building the forum into a platform to share insights, promote communication and foster cooperation. He also said that the scientific workers in China, who uphold the spirit of craftsmanship and strive for excellence, apply new theories, technologies and methods to their work to accelerate China's civil engineering development.

The sixth China Innovation Forum--China Civil Engineering Innovation Forum is held in Beijing Jiaotong University on Sept 7. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Chen Feng, Vice-president of Beijing Jiaotong University, noted that the forum brought the latest academic achievements to the civil engineering industry, and said that Beijing Jiaotong University, a leading higher education institute in this sector, will make more contribution in building an innovation-oriented country and has much to offer in that regard.

In the opening speech, Zhang Wengui, Vice-president of Southwest Jiaotong University, pointed out that civil engineering is the pillar industry of national economic growth and hoped that the forum will become an opportunity for experts to explore new pathways and directions for the future of China's civil engineering.

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Wang Mengshu, Zhou Fengjun, Du Yanliang, Chen Zhengqing, academician of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Yu Kongjian, and scholar of the National Thousand Talents Program Yin Xuejun reported on China's civil engineering development and innovation research directions.

Academic experts in the civil engineering sector attend the sixth China Innovation Forum--China Civil Engineering Innovation Forum in Beijing on Sept 7. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Du Yanfeng said that China’s civil engineering industry has witnessed great progress in the past decades and safeguards the national security. Scientists in the sector should utilize cross-sector and interdisciplinary methods to lead innovation in the industry.

Yin Xuejun, who shared his thoughts on scientific research, said that the development of civil engineering is one of the important factors in making China a powerful country through science and technology. He called on scientific workers to keep in step with the times and rely on self-innovation for China’s national key projects.

This year's event was hosted by China Science Daily and co-hosted by Beijing Jiaotong University, Southwest Jiaotong University and GERB China.

Liu Fengsong, Secretary of the Party Committee of China Science Daily, attends the sixth China Innovation Forum--China Civil Engineering Innovation Forum in Beijing on Sept 7. [Photo provided to China Daily]

More than 300 scientific research personnel from the civil engineering industry, enterprise representatives and college professors and students attended the forum.

The forum was set up in 2010 by China Science Daily and Chinese American physicist Tsung Dao Lee, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics. The event has been held successfully for five consecutive years.

The forum gathers experts in natural science, engineering technology and social sciences to provide intelligence for China's economic and social development, serve the national innovation-driven development strategy, and support the cultivation of innovative science and technology talents in universities.