How the guest list for Beijing’s summer retreat reveals its tech priorities

Experts in chips, defence, and deep-sea drilling gathered as China’s scientific competition with the US intensifies

According to state news agency Xinhua, the Communist Party’s Central Committee and the State Council, China’s cabinet, invited 60 experts to the seaside resort of Beidaihe from August 1 to 7.

While Xinhua did not publish the full guest list, it named 15 participants.

They covered defence engineering, semiconductors, deep-sea equipment, artificial intelligence, particle astrophysics, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, the digital economy and more.

The selection suggests that Beijing is seeking to combine long-term basic research with efforts to address immediate technological and developmental needs. “Self-reliance and strength in science and technology” has been designated as a major objective in China’s 15th five-year plan, which runs through 2030.