Co-hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and the China National Commission for UNESCO, the celebration of World Engineering Day 2021 (WED 2021) was held in Beijing on March 18, 2021, when the Chinese Society of Engineers (CSE) was also founded.

Wan Gang, Vice Chairman of the 13th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee and President of CAST, Li Xiaohong, President of the CAE, and Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education and Director of the China National Commission for UNESCO, addressed the event. Huai Jinpeng, Executive Vice President of CAST, also attended the event. Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences at UNESCO, delivered an online speech. Gong Ke, President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), delivered a keynote speech.

Li said that engineering plays irreplaceable role in coping with current human health crisis and achieving rapid economic and social development. As the COVID-19 crisis remains grim and global sustainable development goals face big challenges, engineering can do a lot to boost economic and social development. Li called for more achievements in science and technology to aid people’s health as well as quick steps in innovation to meet sustainable development goals. He urged close international scientific and technological cooperation to address common challenges.

At the founding ceremony, Wan Gang, Li Xiaohong, Huai Jinpeng, Tian Xuejun, Gong Ke and other leading officials unveiled the logo of the CSE, and awarded certificates to the initiating founders.

The event promoted public awareness of the concept of sustainable development and provided platforms for the international engineering community to strengthen exchanges and cooperation to better fulfill the UN sustainable development goals. More than 200 representatives from the initiating founders of the CSE including national engineering societies, research institutes, universities and enterprises attended the meeting.