On March 29, the Creativity 2030 - 4th International Forum took place at Shougang Park in Beijing. The event brought together over 150 participants from countries including Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. The attendees held discussions on cultural development fueled by digitization, intellectualization, and science fiction, focusing on areas such as policy planning, technology application, product development, and international trade.

A photo from the forum

At the forum, Veronika Liebl, Managing Director of the Festival/Prix/Exhibitions Department of Arts Electronica Center in Linz of Austria, delivered a keynote address themed "Art, Technology, and Society". She highlighted Linz's evolution from its historical identity as an industrial steel hub to its contemporary status as a global center for digital arts, which was driven by the growth of its new media art industry. "Shougang Park is quite familiar to me. The blast furnaces, chimneys, and cooling towers here reminded me of those in Linz. I'm delighted to see that this industrial park has also undergone artistic transformation and upgrades. It is like a sci-fi city," said Liebl.

A group photo of the attendees of the forum

In the digital era, the connotation and scope of the cultural industry are constantly expanding, with new business forms that integrate cultural and technological elements, including science fiction keeping emerging and rapidly developing. Statistics indicate that Beijing is now home to nearly 800 science fiction companies, which have generated a total revenue reaching CNY 48 billion. The city's science fiction industry is accelerating its transition to a new stage of high-quality development.

The Creativity 2030 - 4th International Forum boasts China's first project being included in the global celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions by the UNESCO. It is also featured on the official website of the UNESCO.

(Sources: Beijing Daily, CRI Online)