What changed
The International Science Council’s 2026 midterm members’ assembly opened in Beijing on October 19, the first time the meeting has been held there. More than 1,230 representatives from 88 countries and regions are attending a two-stage programme focused on science as a global public good, responsible artificial intelligence, and trust between science and society.
The event has also released five scientific and innovation outputs, including China’s global sustainable-development data products, a report on basic research, and a study of Beijing’s international science organisations.
Why it matters
This is a significant test of whether global scientific cooperation can stay practical in a complicated political climate. The council brings together natural and social sciences, and its assessments and policy advice feed into international policymaking. Holding its midterm meeting in Beijing also gives China’s scientific institutions a larger role in the conversations that shape those priorities.
The schedule matters. The Beijing Science Dialogue runs from October 19 to 21, with forums and satellite meetings. The council’s members then meet on October 22 and 23. That gives participants several days to move from broad principles to specific areas of cooperation.
The Beijing Science Declaration calls for openness, inclusion, cooperation and mutual respect, while placing responsible AI at the centre of efforts to address global challenges. The important question is whether those principles lead to concrete commitments, funded projects or policy changes. So far, the meeting has established an agenda and released research outputs, but its practical follow-through remains to be seen.
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