BEIJING, Sept. 19 -- It is anticipated that science popularization and enhanced public scientific literacy will empower modernization with the joint efforts of countries around the world, according to the 2023 World Conference on Science Literacy, which opened on Tuesday in Beijing.

The theme this year is "Enhancing Science Literacy and Working Together for Modernization," and approximately 700 Chinese and foreign participants from 13 international organizations and sci-tech institutions across 29 countries will attend.

This year's event will focus on such issues as promoting the construction of global public scientific literacy organizations, strengthening the global capacity for science popularization, promoting the assessment of global public scientific literacy, advancing mutual learning among civilizations, and joining hands to seek modernization.

Initiated by the China Association for Science and Technology in 2018, the World Conference on Science Literacy has been held for four times, cumulatively attracting more than 3,000 individuals working in the field of scientific literacy at home or globally.