SHANGHAI -- The 2nd annual forum of the World Laureates Association closed on Thursday in Shanghai with an initiative released to further promote international science and technology exchanges.

Participants reached a consensus on the fundamental role of openness, cooperation and the scientific community, calling for stronger support for young scientists and the building of a global scientific ecosystem.

Shanghai's deputy mayor Wu Qing and Michael Levitt, vice chairman of the WLA, unveiled a joint international research lab at the forum's closing ceremony.

A number of cooperative projects were signed on the same day, including the construction of a scientific community for top global scientists complete with research and residential facilities.

This year's forum has attracted a total of 44 Nobel Prize laureates and 21 notable winners of other prestigious academic awards such as the Wolf Prize, Lasker Award, Turing Award and MacArthur Fellowship.