The 24th World Knowledge Forum is held during a period of geopolitical and geoeconomic volatility. Major powers are exerting pressure on their neighboring countries, prioritizing their own interests in military and economic domains. The prevailing circumstances indicates that the path ahead will be challenging.

Nevertheless, this year brings forth an even greater hope that advanced technology will lead humanity to a new era. As a result of consistent investments in technology development by companies and governments, remarkable breakthroughs have been achieved in various domains, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, biotechnology, robotics, and climate-driven technologies.

These groundbreaking technologies are set to transform our world, fundamentally reshaping the landscape within a few years. Countries and companies that fail to embrace and adapt to the rapid and extensive technological advancements risk being left behind. Accordingly, the theme of this year's World Knowledge Forum is 'Techno Big Bang: Humanity on the Shoulders of Giants.'

The phrase 'Humanity on the Shoulders of Giants' was initially found in the writings of philosophers during the 12th century. It gained significant recognition after Sir Isaac Newton, the discoverer of the law of universal gravitation, penned his renowned remark in a letter to his colleague Robert Hooke, stating, "if I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Newton employed this sentence to express the idea that uncovering truth is possible through the progressive development of previous discoveries. This year's World Knowledge Forum has adopted this phrase to signify that humanity will attain even greater advancements and achievements by building upon past technological developments.

We hope that you will gain wisdom through meaningful interactions with the world's leading scholars and global experts at the World Knowledge Forum. Throughout the three days of the forum, participants will have the opportunity to explore ways to sustain the growth and prosperity of humanity and create a better world. We assure you that the World Knowledge Forum will offer a wealth of valuable knowledge and insights, making your time here truly worthwhile.