The fifth Global Grand Challenges Summit takes place in Beijing from September 18 to 20. [Photo/Beijing University of Technology]

The fifth Global Grand Challenges Summit, jointly held by three elite academic institutes of China, the United States and the United Kingdom, took place in Beijing from Monday to Wednesday.

It was a collaborative effort between the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the US' National Academy of Engineering and the UK's Royal Academy of Engineering.

Under the theme of "Engineering for Sustainable Development," professionals of engineering sciences and technology from three academies explored three crucial topics of sustainable infrastructure, carbon neutrality and digital economy.

Through intellectual exchanges, experts and scholars delved into pressing issues, cutting-edge theories and interdisciplinary solutions.

At the closing session, a joint statement on the Global Grand Challenges Summits, formulated by the CAE, NAE and RAEng, was officially released. It has echoed the summit's original mission, reviewed the fruitful collaboration, and envisaged the framework for future cooperation.

CAE President Li Xiaohong, NAE President John L. Anderson and RAEng President Sir Jim McDonald jointly signed the joint statement and expressed their commitments to supporting it, pledging to embrace opportunities, pool strengths, foster collaboration, drive innovation and ultimately improve the well-being of humanity.

Envisioning the future, the three elite institutes are committed to forging ahead on the path of progress in collaboration with their sister academies across the globe.

They will also seek to further promote scientific openness, expand cooperative mechanism and enhance the role of engineering in addressing the most immediate challenges nowadays.

The GGCS serves as a pivotal mechanism of exchange and collaboration between the CAE, NAE and RAEng.

Since its launch in 2013, the summit has been aiming to address global challenges by fostering innovative solutions through the collective efforts of the engineering sciences and technology communities not only from China, the US and the UK, but also from around the world.

The summit assembled both in offline at Beijing University of Technology and virtually. It also attracted nearly 200,000 viewers who watched live streaming.