USITI attends Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference activities in Beijing

USITI attends ZGC Forum Annual Conference activities in Beijing

The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, addressed the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Science and Technology Innovation Forum of the Zhongguancun (ZGC) Forum Annual Conference in Beijing today (March 27) and explored new opportunities for Beijing, Hong Kong and Macao to promote synergistic scientific and technological self-reliance and high-quality industrial development with AI at the core, with government representatives, local and overseas experts, scholars and corporate representatives from different places.

Ms Cheong pointed out that the National 15th Five-Year Plan clearly identified AI as the core engine to drive industrial transformation and cultivate new quality productive forces. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area are both crucial engines of national innovation and development, with complementary advantages and broad collaborative spaces. As the country's important international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, Hong Kong plays the role of a bridge connecting the Mainland and the world, and is committed to using AI to drive new industrialisation, shaping new quality productive forces as well as assisting the country in building a modernised industrial system and enhancing its voice and influence in global AI development.

She said that Hong Kong is systematically promoting the AI full-chain strategy, including the establishment of the Committee on AI+ and Industry Development Strategy, launching the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute, building the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster into a leading Asia-Pacific computing hub, and strengthening support for scientific research, computing power, capital, and talent through the $10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund and the $3 billion AI Subsidy Scheme, while building a secure and reliable AI governance framework. Hong Kong will leverage its advantages of connecting with international standards, international data interoperability, global financing, and transformation of research, academic and industry outcomes, and work with with Beijing and Macao to create a new AI innovation ecosystem to jointly promote breakthroughs in frontier fields. These fields include embodied intelligence, industrial intelligence, and on-device AI. Hong Kong will also support the global launch of outstanding technologies and products in the city and ride on platforms such as InnoHK research clusters and the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute to expand into international markets.

Ms Cheong arrived in Beijing to begin her duty visit on March 24. She attended the Opening Ceremony of ZGC Forum Annual Conference the following day (March 25). The ZGC Forum is a state-level platform for global science and technology (sci-tech) innovation exchanges and co-operation, focusing on international cutting-edge and topical sci-tech issues. The forum invites top-notch scientists, leading enterpreneurs from local and overseas to participate.

During her visit to Beijing, Ms Cheong visited a number of leading semiconductor and AI chip enterprises including Beijing SemiDrive Technology Corporation, Beijing Yandong Microelectronics Co, Ltd and GigaDevice Semiconductor Inc, and held discussions with representatives including Tashan Technology to learn about the frontier research and development (R&D) and industry applications in semiconductors, automotive grade chips, and computing chips. She said that HongKong is actively advancing its development in the microelectronics area, with two pilot lines at the Microelectronics Centre in YuenLong set to commence operations this year to support the "1 to N" transformation of R&D outcomes and industrialisation to further develop Yuen Long into a microelectronics industrial park. Meanwhile, the Government is dedicated to collaborating with enterprises that have already completed dual listings on the "A+H" platforms, such as GigaDevice, and encourage them to establish R&D, pilot production and headquarters in Hong Kong, matching the pilot production platforms, international capital and global networks of Hong Kong to foster industry clustering effects.

Additionally, Ms Cheong visited leading embodied intelligence enterprises including Beijing Inspire Robots Technology Co Ltd, and Galbot Co Ltd, and held discussions with representatives including Galaxea AI, Mech-Mind and Yunji Technology to learn about technological breakthroughs in core robotic components on the Mainland,cutting-edge embodied intelligence, latest development of embodied intelligence basic models and the wide-ranging application scenarios in automated production and smart living of embodied intelligence.She stated that embodied intelligence is an important direction for AI industrialisation. With its strengths in basic research, international recognition, marketised application and standards alignment, Hong Kong is well positioned to help Mainland enterprises develop into an international embodied intelligence accelerator by providing one-stop support in international validation, a showcase window for international technology, thereby expediting their technologies towards the global markets.

Ms Cheong visited the Xiong'an New Area yesterday (March 26) and toured the technology park and development pavilion in the Area. She also met with leaders of the Xiong'an New Area Management Committee, where both sides exchanged views on the development of the Xiong'an New Area and Hong Kong including I&T, regional planning, digital construction and industry planning.

Ms Cheong visited the Center for International Economic and Technological Cooperation of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China this morning and met with the relevant officials to exchange views on topics such as international industry co-operation, fostering synergy in various industries, making good use of Hong Kong as a platform for improving quality and upgrading.

Ms Cheong concluded her visit and will return to Hong Kong this evening.

The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong (third left), visited a number of leading semiconductor and AI chip enterprises in Beijing. Photo shows Ms Cheong meeting representatives of Beijing Inspire Robots Technology Co Ltd yesterday (March 26). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong (second left), visited a number of leading semiconductor and AI chip enterprises in Beijing. Photo shows Ms Cheong touring Galbot Co Ltd yesterday (March 26). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong (second left), visited a number of leading semiconductor and AI chip enterprises in Beijing. Photo shows Ms Cheong touring Beijing Yandong Microelectronics Co, Ltd on March 25. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong (fifth left), visited the Xiong'an New Area in Beijing yesterday (March 26). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong (fourth right), visited a number of leading semiconductor and AI chip enterprises in Beijing. Photo shows Ms Cheong touring the Beijing SemiDrive Technology Corporation on March 25. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong (first right), visited a number of leading semiconductor and AI chip enterprises in Beijing. Photo shows Ms Cheong meeting representatives of GigaDevice Semiconductor Inc on March 25. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, attended the Opening Ceremony of Zhongguancun (ZGC) Forum Annual Conference in Beijing on March 25. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

USITI attends ZGC Forum Annual Conference activities in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

USITI attends ZGC Forum Annual Conference activities in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

USITI attends ZGC Forum Annual Conference activities in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

USITI attends ZGC Forum Annual Conference activities in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

USITI attends ZGC Forum Annual Conference activities in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

USITI attends ZGC Forum Annual Conference activities in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

USITI attends ZGC Forum Annual Conference activities in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

USITI attends ZGC Forum Annual Conference activities in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Great Music 2026" to gather international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians to perform in Hong Kong

The "Great Music 2026", presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will bring a world-renowned orchestra and musicians to Hong Kong from June to December, offering music lovers a stellar line-up of performances. Details of the programmes are as follows:

"Gewandhausorchester Leipzig" concerts

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Date and time: June 2 and 3 (Tuesday and Wednesday), 8pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Ticket prices: $450 to $1,600

The Gewandhausorchester Leipzig of Germany, with a history spanning over 280 years, will return to Hong Kong after a seven-year hiatus. Under the baton of its music director and conductor Andris Nelsons, the first concert will feature two iconic works that received their premieres in Leipzig with the orchestra in the first half of the 19th century: Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto and Schumann's Symphony No. 1 "Spring". The second concert will present Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10. The piano concertos in both concerts will be performed with soloist Yulianna Avdeeva, first prize winner of the 16th International Chopin Piano Competition.

This visit also marks the Hong Kong debut of Nelsons, one of the most sought-after conductors of our time, who has collaborated with world-class orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Berliner Philharmoniker. His acclaimed complete recordings of Shostakovich symphonies have also garnered Grammy Awards. These two concerts, with an impressive line-up of international top-tier orchestra, conductor and pianist, promise to be an unmissable highlight of the year for music lovers.

Duo Recital by Rafa Blechacz (Piano) and Bomsori Kim (Violin)

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Date and time: June 22 (Monday), 8pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Ticket prices: $280 to $680

Polish pianist Rafa Blechacz, winner of the 15th International Chopin Piano Competition, and Korean violinist Bomsori Kim, laureate of the 15th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition, have developed a close artistic partnership in recent years. Together they have recorded an award-winning album and toured as a duo at prestigious halls worldwide. Making their reunion on stage in Hong Kong, the duo will present a programme spanning classical and early modern repertoire, featuring works by Beethoven, Paderewski, Franck and Szymanowski.

Violin Recital by Renaud Capuçon

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Date and time: October 11 (Sunday), 8pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Ticket prices: $280 to $680

Renaud Capuçon is one of the most acclaimed violinists of our time. He has performed as a soloist and conductor with leading orchestras in various venues and served as music director of prominent festivals. The French violinist will return to Hong Kong to present a programme that is entirely dedicated to Brahms and his three sonatas for violin.

Duo Recital by Sol Gabetta (Cello) & Patricia Kopatchinskaja (Violin)

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Date and time: November 2 (Monday), 8pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Ticket prices: $280 to $680

Grammy Award-winning violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and cellist Sol Gabetta, laureate of the Opus Klassik Award, enchant the classical music world as dazzling and vibrant soloists and as duo partners for more than 20 years with their distinctive style of performance. In this recital, they will present an assortment of short pieces across eras - from all-time classics Ravel's sonata and Kodály's duo for violin and cello, along with a few forays (by Leclair and Bach) into the Baroque period, to works by the 20th- and 21st-century composers the artists favour, including Widmann, Ligeti, Xenakis, as well as Kopatchinskaja's own composition. This Hong Kong recital debut of the duo will surely revitalise the evening with virtuosity and zest.

Piano Recital by Jan Lisiecki

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Date and time: December 6 (Sunday), 8pm

Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Ticket prices: $250 to $550

Transitioned from a piano prodigy to an internationally acclaimed musician, Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki works closely with the foremost conductors and orchestras of his time, and his albums have garnered numerous prestigious awards. After an eight-year absence, he will return to present a dance-themed solo recital programme for Hong Kong audiences. Featuring works by Martin, Falla, Szymanowski, Schubert, Bartók, Ginastera, Chopin, Brahms, Piazzolla and Albéniz, Lisiecki traces a musical journey that embraces traditions and geographies, from the refinement of the waltz to the blazing energy of the tango.

Tickets for the above-mentioned programmes will be available from March 30 (Monday) onwards at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. A 30 per cent early bird discount will be offered from March 30 until April 12 (Sunday) for each purchase of standard tickets of any two or more performances of "Great Music 2026" (which should include "Gewandhausorchester Leipzig" concerts). For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1946.html.

An international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians will stage performances at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Great Music 2026" from June to December. Photo shows pianist Jan Lisiecki. (Photo source: Christoph Koestlin) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

An international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians will stage performances at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Great Music 2026" from June to December. Photo shows cellist Sol Gabetta (right) and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja (left). (Photo source: Julia Wesely) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

An international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians will stage performances at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Great Music 2026" from June to December. Photo shows violinist Renaud Capuçon. (Photo source: Universal Music) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

An international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians will stage performances at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Great Music 2026" from June to December. Photo shows pianist Rafal Blechacz (right) and violinist Bomsori Kim (left). (Photo source: Harald Hoffmann Deutsche Grammophon) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

An international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians will stage performances at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Great Music 2026" from June to December. Photo shows pianist Yulianna Avdeeva. (Photo source: Maxim Abrossimow) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

An international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians will stage performances at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Great Music 2026" from June to December. Photo shows music director and conductor of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Andris Nelsons. (Photo source: Eric Kemnitz) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

An international top-notch orchestra and acclaimed musicians will stage performances at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Great Music 2026" from June to December. Photo shows the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. (Photo source: Konrad Stöhr) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases