BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- An international conference on artificial intelligence (AI) and education will be held on May 16 to 18 in Beijing to explore the application of AI technologies in education, according to the Ministry of Education.

Co-organized by Chinese authorities and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the conference is themed on "Planning Education in the AI Era: Lead the Leap," and is expected to provide a platform for participants to discuss the capabilities required in the AI era and the building of educational systems that match with the development of AI.

Discussions will also be focused on policies and strategies that serve the United Nations' sustainable development goal in education, as well as the innovative application of information technology, especially AI, in education.

The conference will feature an exhibition on AI and education to show the application of AI technologies in China's education sector.

The conference is expected to promote international cooperation in coping with the challenges posed by the digital divide, data security, and ethics, among other issues, according to the ministry.

More than 500 participants will attend the event, including government officials of participating countries, representatives of international organizations, educational and research institutions, industry leaders and academic experts.