The eight-day 2020 Pujiang Innovation Forum, at which officials, scientists and entrepreneurs are scheduled to discuss science and technology innovations, will start in Shanghai on Thursday.

The forum has been co-hosted since 2008 by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai government.

About 160 speakers from over 100 international organizations, universities, research institutions and 20 global think tanks are scheduled to attend the forum, Chen Hongkai, deputy director-general of the program committee of Pujiang Innovation Forum, said on Friday.

Wang Zhigang, minister of science and technology, said in a letter to the forum that China will make upholding openness and global scientific cooperation a greater priority, as the country strives to become an innovative nation with optimal economic growth.

Gong Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, said the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that countries need to find solutions to challenges facing them through innovation and advances in science.

Shanghai remains committed to building a center for scientific and technological innovations that will have a global impact, Gong said.

Serbia is this year's country of honor while Shaanxi is this year's province of honor.

Sixteen subforums will also be staged, featuring topics such as global health, sustainable development, scientific policy and training talent as well as scientific cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chen said the forum's purpose is to promote exchanges of ideas on innovation, facilitate global scientific cooperation and formulate new policies to promote science, technology and innovation.