Forum discusses China's sci-fi ecosystem and global industry development

A forum exploring the ecosystem and global development of the sci-fi industry was held in Beijing on March 29 during the China Science Fiction Convention 2026.

Sci-fi luminary Wang Jinkang speaks at the forum held during the China Science Fiction Convention 2026 in Beijing, March 29, 2026. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Sci-fi luminary Wang Jinkang, also honorary president of the Beijing Yuanyu Science Fiction and Future Technology Research Institute, said science fiction is not about isolated creation, but a bridge connecting science, culture, industry and global civilization.

"Currently, China's science fiction industry has formed an ecosystem where writing, film and television, gaming, cultural tourism and education coexist and collaborate," he said. "From the transformation of literary IP into tangible products, to deepening domestic development and expansion into international markets, the entire industry chain is undergoing an upgrade."

He added: "At the same time, amid the wave of globalization, the boundaries of science fiction are constantly being pushed. Chinese science fiction should embrace a more open approach and actively participate in global sci-fi industry collaboration."

Lin Li, deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of China Science and Technology Press, noted that after a decade of development, the China Science Fiction Convention has become an important platform for promoting sci-fi creation, industrial transformation and international exchange.

He said the press will continue to support original sci-fi works and help sci-fi content move beyond text into diverse formats such as film, television, cultural tourism and education, and will continue to use publishing as a bridge to connect creative, technological and industrial forces, promoting the global reach of high-quality Chinese science fiction works.

Zhu Yuting, a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Philosophy at Zhejiang University who holds a PhD in literature, delivered a keynote speech analyzing how Chinese sci-fi mobile games have become a form of "hard currency" for cultural export. She introduced and analyzed the global expansion of Chinese sci-fi mobile games, the deep integration of "sci-fi +" across different sectors, and cross-domain collaboration within the ecosystem. She argued that Chinese sci-fi mobile games are reshaping the world's perception of China in a more interactive and immersive way, transforming Chinese culture from something "to be viewed" into something "to be experienced."

Participants pose for a photo at the forum held during the China Science Fiction Convention 2026 in Beijing, March 29, 2026. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Two roundtable panels were also held later, where writers, entrepreneurs and experts engaged in discussions. One panel focused on industrial empowerment and sci-fi breakthroughs. The speakers drew from their respective fields to explore the two-way exchange and symbiotic development between industrial technology and their own practices. 

The other panel discussed the global development and cross-cultural transformation of sci-fi IP, and how young creators can access international markets. Participants shared their experiences in connecting local sci-fi IP with international markets and resources, and explored how Chinese science fiction can establish a differentiated competitive edge globally.