STORY: China to host global summit for science parks, innovation hubs in 2025
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 27, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 28, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:13
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the IASP World Conference
2. various of Chinese delegates
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MA JUN, Vice mayor of Beijing
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LENA MIRANDA, Board president of IASP
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JOHN PAUL OKWIRI, Chief executive officer of Konza Technopolis
6. various of delegates at the conference

STORYLINE:

The 42nd edition of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) World Conference will be held in Beijing, China, in September 2025, organizers announced Friday in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
   
The Chinese delegation led by Ma Jun, deputy mayor of Beijing Municipality, graced the flag handover ceremony to host the conference during the conclusion of the 41st IASP World Conference, which began on Tuesday in Nairobi.

Kenya hosted the four-day conference that attracted more than 1,500 participants from 400 science parks and innovation hubs.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MA JUN, Vice mayor of Beijing
"We are honored to host the IASP 2025 World Conference in Zhongguancun, Beijing, with the modernized China National Convention Center as the main venue for next year's conference. You will also have a chance to attend subforums at the foot of the Great Wall and visit specialized industry parks and leading companies. Of course, you will have a chance to enjoy delicious Beijing food and go shopping and other things. Beijing is a city where tradition meets modernity, and Zhongguancun is where diverse cultures interact in harmony."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LENA MIRANDA, Board president of IASP
"It (China) is an emerging market that is growing and making a lot of impact but also making a lot of investments around the world. So I know that China is an important collaborator to Kenya and different parts of Africa. And they are, of course, one of the leaders in digital development. So it will be really, really interesting to visit the country next year."

John Paul Okwiri, chief executive officer of Konza Technopolis, Kenya's envisioned smart city located about 70 kilometers southeast of Nairobi, said that China has excelled in innovations and emerging technologies.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JOHN PAUL OKWIRI, Chief executive officer of Konza Technopolis
"China has really excelled in as far as innovation and technology is concerned. As Konza Technopolis, we want to continue with our collaboration so that we can partner and exchange ideas, knowledge and technical expertise between both countries, so that Kenya and Konza Technopolis can also get to the level that China has gotten into."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)