Speech at the 20th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the 15th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the 10th National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology
Distinguished academicians, comrades, and friends:
Today, the 20th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the 15th Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the 10th National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology have solemnly opened. At this pivotal moment—when we stand at the historical juncture of the “Two Centenary Goals” and embark on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country—this is a grand gathering to jointly deliberate and advance the overarching plan for China’s scientific and technological innovation.
First of all, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, I would like to extend my warm congratulations on the convening of this conference, and express my sincere condolences to all science and technology workers who have devoted themselves tirelessly to their respective posts. May 30 marks the fifth National Science and Technology Workers’ Day, and on this occasion, I wish all science and technology workers across the country a happy holiday! This year marks the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Throughout the revolutionary, developmental, and reform periods, our Party has consistently attached great importance to science and technology. From placing a high priority on work with intellectuals during the revolutionary era, to sounding the call to “march into science” after the founding of New China, to advancing the proposition that “science and technology are the primary productive forces” during the reform and opening-up period; from the new century onward, when we deepened the implementation of the Knowledge Innovation Project, the strategy of invigorating the country through science and education, and the strategy of strengthening the country by cultivating talent—continuously improving the national innovation system and building an innovative nation—to the period following the 18th National Congress of the CPC, when innovation was identified as the primary driving force, the strategy of innovation-driven development was comprehensively implemented, and efforts were made to build China into a world leader in science and technology—science and technology have always occupied a vitally important strategic position and played an indispensable strategic role in the cause of the Party and the people. Since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the international landscape of scientific and technological innovation, thoroughly assessed both domestic and global development trends, and addressed the most salient problems and challenges confronting China’s science and technology sector. Upholding the central role of scientific and technological innovation in the overall national development agenda, the Party has formulated a holistic strategy for advancing innovation. We have maintained the Party’s overarching leadership over science and technology, kept a broad perspective, pursued strategic planning, and tackled fundamental issues, thereby establishing an efficient organizational mobilization system and a coordinated mechanism for allocating scientific and technological resources. We have firmly anchored ourselves to the strategic goal of building China into a world leader in science and technology, driven by a sense of mission, responsibility, and urgency, seizing opportunities in the global race for technological advancement and striving to take the lead in foundational and cutting-edge fields. We have leveraged the guiding and catalytic role of scientific and technological innovation, striving for new breakthroughs in original research, achieving leapfrog progress in key areas of science and technology, ensuring independent control over critical core technologies, and strengthening the integration of innovation and industrial chains. We have comprehensively reformed the institutional framework for scientific and technological innovation, introducing a series of major reform measures to enhance the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system. We have vigorously implemented the strategy of building a country strong in talent, fostering a favorable ecosystem for innovation, attracting and harnessing top global talent, and fully stimulating the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the vast ranks of scientists and engineers. Moreover, we have expanded openness and cooperation in the field of science and technology, proactively integrated into the global network of scientific and technological innovation, actively participated in addressing major challenges facing humanity, and worked to ensure that the fruits of scientific and technological progress benefit more countries and peoples. In 2016, we convened the National Conference on Scientific and Technological Innovation, the Joint Academic Conference of the Academies of Sciences and Engineering, and the Ninth National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology. In 2018, we held the Joint Academic Conference of the Academies of Sciences and Engineering. Over the past few years, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and through the concerted efforts of the national science and technology community and all sectors of society, China’s scientific and technological strength has been advancing from quantitative accumulation to qualitative leaps, and from isolated breakthroughs to enhanced systemic capabilities, achieving new historic accomplishments in scientific and technological innovation. — Significant progress has been made in basic research and original innovation. The overall strength of basic research has been significantly enhanced, with marked improvements in the standing of disciplines such as chemistry, materials science, physics, and engineering. A number of major original breakthroughs have been achieved in cutting-edge fields including quantum information, stem cells, and brain science. A series of major basic research projects have been successfully launched: Chang’e‑5 accomplished sample return from an extraterrestrial body; Tianwen‑1 initiated Mars exploration; the Huairou‑1 satellite, a wide‑field monitor for high‑energy electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave bursts, was successfully launched; the Huiyan satellite directly measured the strongest magnetic field ever observed in the universe; the 500‑meter aperture spherical radio telescope detected its first millisecond pulsar; the next‑generation “artificial sun” achieved its first discharge; the Xuelong‑2 made its maiden voyage to Antarctica; and the quantum computing prototypes Jiuzhang, featuring 76 photons, and Zuchongzhi, a 62‑qubit programmable superconducting quantum computer, were both brought to fruition. In addition, a number of major scientific infrastructure facilities of world‑class caliber, such as the Spallation Neutron Source, have passed acceptance testing. — New breakthroughs have been achieved in strategic high‑tech fields. China is actively seizing the commanding heights of science and technology in fields such as the deep sea, deep space, deep earth, and the deep blue. The “Haidou‑1” has completed a 10,000‑meter sea trial; the “Fendouzhe” submersible has successfully reached the seafloor; the BeiDou Satellite Navigation System has been fully operational; the Tianhe core module of the Chinese Space Station has been successfully launched; the Long March‑5 Yao‑3 carrier rocket has achieved a successful launch; the world’s most powerful underground nuclear astrophysics accelerator has produced its first beam; the Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer has, for the first time, carried out first‑principles computational simulations at the scale of tens of millions of cores in parallel; and the Micius satellite has realized relay‑free quantum key distribution over distances of up to 1,000 kilometers. Meanwhile, the Tiankun‑II vessel has successfully completed its maiden sea trial, and new breakthroughs have been made in third‑generation nuclear power technologies, including the “Guohe‑1” and the “Hualong‑One.” — New breakthroughs have been achieved in high-end industries. The C919 large aircraft is poised for commercial service, the 600 km/h high-speed maglev test vehicle has successfully completed its trial run, and the world’s largest-diameter tunnel boring machine has been smoothly launched. Beijing Daxing International Airport has officially opened, and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge has begun operations. Smart manufacturing has made significant strides, with artificial intelligence and the digital economy thriving; image and speech recognition technologies are among the world’s most advanced, and 5G mobile communications have taken the lead in large-scale deployment. The development of new‑energy vehicles is accelerating, while consumer‑grade drones now account for more than half of the global market. Continuous innovation in methanol‑to‑olefins technology has driven the rapid growth of China’s coal‑to‑olefins industry. — Science and technology have played a crucial role in the prevention and control of COVID-19. The science and technology community has provided robust scientific and policy‑making support to the Party and the government in their efforts to respond to the pandemic. It successfully isolated the world’s first SARS‑CoV‑2 strain, completed the sequencing of the virus genome, developed a range of clinical therapeutics, diagnostic devices, and reagents, and brought multiple vaccines into practical use. Science and technology have thus offered strong backing in areas such as infection control, virus tracing, patient care, vaccine and drug development, and the resumption of work and production, enabling a successful science‑based fight against the epidemic. — Significant achievements have been made in the field of science and technology for people’s livelihood. Significant progress has been made in the domestic substitution of high-end medical equipment, including medical heavy-ion accelerators, magnetic resonance imaging systems, color Doppler ultrasound machines, and CT scanners. By leveraging scientific and technological tools, a new model of targeted poverty alleviation has been established, fostering science-and‑technology‑driven industries and cultivating technical talent in impoverished areas, thereby enabling science and technology to play a pivotal role in securing victory in the battle against poverty. The widespread application of key technologies—such as clean and efficient coal combustion and ultra‑low‑emission control of multiple pollutants in the steel industry—has contributed to improved air quality. — Major achievements have been made in defense-related scientific and technological innovation. National defense science and technology has provided robust support for the research, development, and deployment of major weapons systems: China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier was launched, and the fifth-generation fighter J‑20 has officially entered service. The Dongfeng‑17 ballistic missile has been successfully developed, placing China at the forefront of hypersonic weapons. Practice has proven that China’s endeavor of independent innovation holds great promise, and that the vast ranks of Chinese scientists and engineers are fully capable of making significant contributions. Guided by a spirit of keeping pace with the times, the courage to break new ground, and unwavering determination, they must focus on the frontiers of global science and technology, the main battlefields of the economy, the nation’s major strategic needs, and the health and well-being of the people. By seizing the overarching trends and taking the lead, confronting challenges head-on, and shouldering the heavy responsibilities entrusted by the times, they must strive to achieve a high level of scientific and technological self-reliance and strength. Distinguished academicians, comrades, and friends! Today, the world is undergoing profound and unprecedented changes that are accelerating, with an increasingly complex international environment, a global economy mired in recession, and global industrial and supply chains facing reshaping—resulting in markedly heightened instability and uncertainty. The COVID‑19 pandemic has had far-reaching and deep‑seated impacts, while undercurrents of anti‑globalization, unilateralism, and protectionism continue to gain traction. Technological innovation has become the principal arena of international strategic competition, with rivalry over technological supremacy more intense than ever before. We must maintain a strong sense of vigilance and be fully prepared—both ideologically and operationally. At present, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is advancing at breakneck speed. The paradigm of scientific research is undergoing profound changes, interdisciplinary integration is steadily expanding, and science, technology, and economic and social development are accelerating their mutual penetration and convergence. The scope of scientific and technological innovation has broadened significantly: from the macroscopic realm—celestial motions, galaxy evolution, and the origins of the universe—to the microscopic realm—gene editing, particle structure, and quantum control—each represents the cutting edge of today’s scientific and technological progress. Meanwhile, the depth of innovation has deepened markedly, with deep-space exploration emerging as the commanding height of technological competition, while deep-sea and deep-earth exploration continue to open up new horizons for humanity’s understanding of nature. The pace of scientific and technological innovation has accelerated markedly, with emerging technologies—particularly information technology and artificial intelligence—advancing rapidly. These developments have dramatically expanded the boundaries of time, space, and human cognition, ushering humanity into an era of ubiquitous intelligent connectivity characterized by the seamless integration of humans, machines, and objects. Meanwhile, both fundamental and applied research in the life sciences are progressing at a rapid pace. The precision of scientific and technological innovation has been markedly enhanced, and research on biomolecules and genes has entered a phase of precise regulation. As we move from understanding and modifying life toward synthesizing and designing life, we are not only ushering in benefits for humanity but also confronting profound challenges to bioethics. After years of concerted effort, China’s overall scientific and technological level has risen significantly. We are fully equipped with the foundations, confidence, and capabilities to seize the opportunities presented by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, build on this momentum, and realize our grand vision. At the same time, we must recognize that China’s capacity for original innovation remains limited, the overall effectiveness of our innovation system is still insufficient, the integration of scientific and technological resources falls short, the spatial layout of innovation forces requires further optimization, the return on investment in science and technology is relatively low, the structure of our science and technology talent pool needs refinement, the evaluation system for scientific and technological achievements does not yet meet the demands of development, and the broader science and technology ecosystem calls for continued improvement. Many of these issues have been persistent challenges that require sustained, vigorous efforts to address. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China set the strategic goal of placing China among the world’s leading innovative nations by 2035. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee reaffirmed the central role of innovation in China’s modernization drive and designated scientific and technological self-reliance and strength as a strategic pillar for national development. Grounded in the new stage of development, guided by the new development philosophy, shaped by the new development paradigm, and propelled by high-quality development, we must vigorously implement the strategies of invigorating the country through science and education, strengthening the country with talented people, and driving development through innovation; improve the national innovation system; accelerate the building of a science and technology powerhouse; and achieve a high level of scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening. First, we must intensify efforts to tackle critical scientific and technological challenges with originality and leadership, and resolutely win the battle to master key core technologies. When science and technology thrive, the nation prospers; when science and technology are strong, the country is strong. Strengthening basic research is an imperative for achieving scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement, and it is the inevitable choice as we move from the unknown to the known and from uncertainty to certainty. We must accelerate the formulation of a ten-year action plan for basic research. Basic research must be bold in exploration and emphasize originality, advancing our understanding of cosmic evolution, the nature of consciousness, the structure of matter, the origins of life, and other fundamental questions, thereby expanding the frontiers of natural knowledge and opening up new realms of cognition. Moreover, basic research should be driven by practical applications and strive to overcome critical bottlenecks: by distilling scientific problems from real-world challenges in economic and social development and national security, we must unravel the underlying theories and technical principles behind “bottleneck” technologies. We need to increase fiscal investment in basic research and optimize its expenditure structure, implement tax incentives for corporate contributions to basic research, and encourage diversified public and private funding through donations and the establishment of endowment funds, thus establishing a sustained and stable funding mechanism. Technological breakthroughs must remain problem‑oriented, focusing on the most urgent and pressing challenges. Grounded in both immediate national needs and long-term strategic priorities, we must devote all our efforts to mastering critical core technologies in areas such as oil and natural gas, basic raw materials, advanced chips, industrial software, crop seeds, scientific research instruments and equipment, and chemical formulations. At the same time, we should accelerate progress in key core technologies across sectors including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical equipment, and vaccines. In foundational and core fields that bear on overall development and national security, we must target cutting‑edge domains such as artificial intelligence, quantum information, integrated circuits, advanced manufacturing, life and health, brain science, biological breeding, aerospace technology, and deep‑earth and deep‑sea exploration. We should proactively launch a batch of strategic, forward‑looking R&D projects aimed at securing technological and industrial leadership for the future. Furthermore, we must optimize public funding for science and technology, directing resources primarily toward strategic and critical areas. The integration of the innovation chain and the industrial chain hinges on establishing enterprises as the primary drivers of innovation. To bolster their innovative capacity, we must provide positive incentives while imposing regulatory pressure to spur progress. Enterprises should be empowered to set the agenda, promote coordinated implementation of key projects, and integrate R&D activities. We need to accelerate the formation of innovation consortia led by leading enterprises, supported by universities and research institutes, and characterized by seamless collaboration among all innovation actors. At the same time, we must develop an efficient and robust system for delivering common technologies and enhance the effectiveness of technology transfer and commercialization. Modern engineering and technological sciences serve as an indispensable bridge between scientific principles, industrial development, and engineering innovation, playing a pivotal role within the modern science and technology system. It is essential to vigorously strengthen interdisciplinary research in modern engineering and technology, thereby driving advances in both fundamental science and engineering practice and fostering a comprehensive modern science and technology framework. Second, strengthen the nation’s strategic scientific and technological capabilities and enhance the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system. In the global competition among leading science and technology powers, what is at stake is the nation’s strategic scientific and technological capabilities. National laboratories, national research institutions, high‑level research universities, and technology‑leading enterprises all constitute vital components of this strategic force; they must consciously shoulder the mission and responsibility of achieving a high level of scientific and technological self‑reliance and strength. National laboratories must, in accordance with the “Four Orientations,” keep pace with global trends in scientific and technological development, respond to the missions and tasks posed by China’s development needs, produce a greater number of strategic, critical, and major scientific and technological breakthroughs, and integrate with national key laboratories to establish a national laboratory system with Chinese characteristics. National research institutions should be guided by the country’s strategic needs, focus on addressing major scientific and technological challenges that impede national development and long-term interests, accelerate the establishment of hubs for original innovation, and expedite breakthroughs in critical core technologies. High‑level research universities must better integrate the development of science and technology as the primary productive force, talent as the primary resource, and innovation as the primary driving force. Leveraging their strengths in deep foundational research and interdisciplinary integration, they should become the mainstay of basic research and a powerful engine for major scientific and technological breakthroughs. It is essential to strengthen the alignment of research university development with national strategic goals and tasks, intensify exploration at the frontiers of fundamental science, and achieve breakthroughs in critical technologies. Efforts should be made to build disciplinary, academic, and discourse systems that embody Chinese characteristics, style, and ethos, thereby contributing to the cultivation of more outstanding talents. Leading technology enterprises should leverage their strengths in market demand, integrated innovation, and organizational platforms to bridge the pathway from technological excellence to corporate strength, industrial robustness, and economic vitality. They should take the lead in integrating and pooling innovation resources, establishing cross‑disciplinary, large‑scale collaborative, high‑intensity innovation hubs that conduct R&D on industry‑wide critical technologies, facilitate the commercialization and industrialization of scientific and technological advances, and provide shared access to scientific and technological resources. By promoting the coordinated allocation of projects, infrastructure, talent, and funding in key areas, these efforts will enhance China’s industrial foundational capabilities and elevate the modernization of its industrial chains. All regions should leverage their respective strengths, align with the needs of industrial development, and strategically plan the layout of scientific and technological innovation. They should support eligible localities in establishing comprehensive national science centers or regional innovation hubs, turning them into global platforms for cutting-edge scientific research, breakthroughs in emerging industries, and the aggregation of international innovation resources. Third, advance the reform of the science and technology system and establish a foundational institutional framework that supports comprehensive innovation. It is essential to improve the new national system under the conditions of a socialist market economy, fully leveraging the state’s role as the principal organizer of major scientific and technological innovation. We must support strategic science programs and projects that are long‑term, high‑risk, highly challenging, and promising, emphasizing systematic planning, coordinated organization, and cross‑sectoral integration, so as to unite the strengths of government, market, and society into a cohesive force and forge comprehensive competitive advantages for the future. Furthermore, we should promote a closer synergy between an efficient market and a proactive government, giving full play to the market’s decisive role in resource allocation, guiding the effective deployment of innovation resources through market demand, and forging a powerful synergy to advance scientific and technological innovation. It is essential to prioritize foundational reforms, such as refining the evaluation system, and to uphold an evaluation orientation centered on quality, performance, and contribution, ensuring that outcomes fully and accurately reflect their level of innovation, the effectiveness of their application and commercialization, and their tangible contributions to economic and social development. In project evaluation, we must establish and improve a system that aligns with the inherent principles of scientific research, refine the classification‑based evaluation framework for both open‑ended exploratory and mission‑oriented science and technology projects, and develop mechanisms for assessing non‑conventional or high‑risk research initiatives. In talent assessment, we should simultaneously dismantle the “four rigid criteria” while establishing new benchmarks, and accelerate the development of a science and technology talent evaluation system that prioritizes innovation value, capability, and contribution. Furthermore, we should support research institutions in piloting more flexible remuneration schemes, thereby stabilizing and strengthening the ranks of researchers engaged in fundamental, cutting‑edge, and public‑interest‑oriented research, and providing them with the security they need to focus on their work. Reform of science and technology management must not stop at “addition”; it must also master the art of “subtraction.” We need to summon greater courage to transform the functions of science and technology administration, aligning them with the roles of strategic guidance, reform, planning, and service. This requires a shift in working style, enhanced capabilities, and a reduction in direct interventions such as allocating funds, distributing resources, or assigning specific projects. Instead, we should strengthen the guiding role of planning and policies, grant research institutions greater autonomy, and empower scientists with broader authority over technical roadmaps and financial management, thereby freeing research organizations and researchers from cumbersome, unnecessary institutional constraints. Innovation knows no pedigree, and heroes are judged by their deeds, not their origins. We must reform the ways in which major science and technology projects are approved and managed, implementing systems such as “listing challenges and appointing leaders” and “race‑to‑the‑top.” We need to tackle real problems and establish genuine, substantive challenge lists. We must conduct rigorous research, empowering leading scientific and technological talents who are eager to act, capable of delivering, and able to achieve results to take the helm. We will introduce a chief technical officer responsibility system, a lump‑sum funding regime, and a credit‑based commitment system, ensuring that qualifications and barriers are set aside so that scientists and engineers with true talent and practical expertise can find a platform to showcase their abilities. Fourth, build an open innovation ecosystem and participate in global science and technology governance. Science and technology are global in scope and of their time, constituting a shared heritage of humanity. We must balance development with security, adopt a global perspective in planning and advancing innovation, and actively integrate into the global innovation network. Focusing on issues such as climate change and human health, we should strengthen joint research and development with scientists from around the world. Moreover, we should proactively design and lead major international scientific programs and projects, and establish science‑research funds open to the global community. Technology is a powerful tool for development, yet it can also give rise to risks. We must proactively assess the regulatory conflicts, social risks, and ethical challenges posed by technological advancement, and refine relevant laws and regulations, ethical review frameworks, and oversight mechanisms. We should engage more deeply in global governance of science and technology, contribute Chinese wisdom, and foster a culture that harnesses technology for the greater good—ensuring that science and innovation better enhance human well-being and enabling China’s scientific and technological endeavors to make an even greater contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Fifth, we will unleash the innovative vitality of all types of talent and build a global hub for talent. World-leading science and technology powers must be able to attract, retain, and effectively utilize talent on a global scale. For China to achieve a high level of scientific and technological self-reliance and strength, it ultimately depends on cultivating top-tier innovative talent. Cultivating innovative talent is a strategic priority for the long-term development of both the nation and the people. In today’s world, competition ultimately comes down to a contest for talent and for education. We must place greater emphasis on independently nurturing talent and on fostering a scientific spirit, innovative capacity, and critical thinking. We should also give higher priority to cultivating young talent, striving to develop a cohort of world‑class scientific and technological leaders, providing stable support to a number of pioneering research teams, and training more highly skilled technical professionals, master craftsmen, and artisans of national caliber. China’s education system is fully capable of producing great masters—we must have this confidence. We need to foster throughout society an environment that respects labor, knowledge, talent, and creativity, and to cultivate a culture that reveres science, inspiring more young people to harbor scientific aspirations and to set their sights on innovation. As the saying goes, “Plant a paulownia tree, and the golden phoenix will come.” We must build hubs of scientific and technological innovation that attract top talent from around the globe, and refine policies to facilitate the work, research, and exchanges of high‑level and specialized professionals in China. Technological innovation cannot thrive without the sustained time and dedication of scientific and technological personnel. To safeguard researchers’ time, as early as 1961, the central authorities stipulated that “scientific and technological personnel should be guaranteed five days per week for research.” Protecting their time is, in essence, protecting their capacity for innovation. We must establish institutional mechanisms that enable researchers to devote their primary energy to scientific inquiry, ensuring that they can focus on technological innovation and R&D activities. Reducing the participation of scientific and technological personnel in ad hoc, ceremonial, or social‑engagement events will entail no significant loss. Under no circumstances should we allow them to waste vast amounts of time on unnecessary receptions and send-offs, on superfluous review and evaluation processes, or on various formalistic and bureaucratic exercises. Distinguished academicians, comrades, and friends! The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering are the highest academic institutions in China’s science and technology and engineering communities, serving as the nation’s strategic scientific and technological forces. It is essential to leverage their roles as national teams—providing academic leadership, spearheading breakthroughs in critical core technologies, and cultivating innovative talent—to tackle major, original scientific challenges, boldly venture into uncharted territories of innovation, overcome key technological bottlenecks that constrain development, and identify, nurture, and bring together a cohort of high-caliber professionals and world-class innovation teams. Furthermore, the two academies should strengthen their functions as premier national think tanks, harness the expertise of strategic scientists, and actively engage in policy advice and evaluation to support sound national decision-making. The China Association for Science and Technology must shoulder its responsibility as a bridge and link between the Party and the government and the science and technology workforce, steadfastly serving scientists and engineers, supporting innovation-driven development, enhancing the public’s scientific literacy, and providing sound scientific advice to the Party and the government. It should more broadly unite the vast ranks of science and technology professionals around the Party, promote the spirit of scientists, and foster an excellent academic ethos. Upholding a global and future‑oriented vision, it must strengthen openness, trust, and cooperation with the international science and technology community, thereby making greater contributions to the comprehensive building of a modern socialist country and to advancing the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind. Academicians represent the highest honor in China’s scientific and technological fields as well as in engineering. Academicians of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering are a national treasure, a source of pride for the people, and a symbol of national glory. Since the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, we have reformed the academicianship system and achieved positive results. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee called for deepening the reform of the academicianship system, ensuring that the title of academician once again embodies its honorary and scholarly nature. In the selection process, we must break with seniority‑based hierarchies, eliminate the influence of non‑academic factors, strengthen public oversight, and safeguard the integrity and purity of the academicianship title. Here, I would like to express a few hopes to the academicians. — We hope that all academicians will set an exemplary standard by holding the motherland at heart and serving the people. Along the journey toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, generation after generation of scientists have remained devoted to the country and its people, braving hardships and making selfless contributions, thereby making significant advances in science and technology, improving the lives of the people, and advancing the development of the Chinese nation. In this new era, it is even more essential to carry forward and uphold the spirit of patriotism, which takes the destiny of the nation and the people as one’s own responsibility, and to continue to promote the scientific ethos rooted in patriotism. All academicians should remain true to their original aspiration and keep their mission firmly in mind; respond to the Party’s call, heed the summons of the motherland, and maintain a profound sense of devotion to both family and country as well as a strong sense of social responsibility, dedicating themselves wholeheartedly and striving tirelessly for the Party, for the motherland, and for the people! — We hope that the broad community of academicians will set an example by pursuing truth and boldly scaling new heights. Science is called to the mission of probing truth and uncovering new knowledge. All genuinely original insights must break through the boundaries of existing intellectual frameworks. As the saying goes, “The skilled scholar exhausts the principles; the adept practitioner grapples with the difficulties.” The vast ranks of academicians should courageously scale the pinnacles of science, dare to lead, strive for excellence, and tirelessly explore the frontiers of research. They should identify and address novel scientific problems, propose new concepts, theories, and methodologies, pioneer new fields and directions, and give rise to cutting-edge schools of thought. Moreover, they must tackle the most formidable challenges through collective wisdom and concerted effort, focusing on critical core technologies that represent bottlenecks, and guiding their teams to achieve major breakthroughs. — We hope that all academicians will set an exemplary standard in upholding academic integrity and pursuing scholarship with rigor. Integrity is an essential tenet of the scientific spirit. All academicians should serve as role models of academic ethics, steadfastly adhering to both academic morality and research ethics, and faithfully observing scholarly norms, so that ethical principles and the spirit of science are deeply internalized and manifest themselves in concrete actions. In this way, we can foster a clean and upright research environment and cultivate a scientific culture characterized by rigor and truth‑seeking. Given that human energy is limited, academicians should devote themselves more fully to research, minimize extracurricular commitments, and focus even more intently on their respective fields of expertise. — We hope that the broad community of academicians will set an exemplary standard by willingly serving as stepping stones and nurturing the next generation. “Each era produces its own talented individuals,” and “since time immemorial, heroes have emerged in their youth.” Academicians should assume a guiding role in cultivating innovative talent—identifying, mentoring, and employing those with promise. As the saying goes, “Talent is like raw material; it is best nurtured in simplicity and shaped into valuable instruments.” They must lead by both word and deed, uphold academic democracy, and humbly serve as paving stones and mentors for younger scholars. At the same time, they should vigorously dismantle entrenched practices such as seniority‑based hierarchies and insular groupthink, encouraging young people to innovate boldly and fearlessly, so that a steady stream of promising young talents may flow forth like a spring. Party committees and governments at all levels must fully respect talent, offering political care, professional support, and personal concern to academicians. They should earnestly solicit the views of the broader scientific research community, including academicians, strengthen the scientific management and service‑oriented support for research activities, and create a favorable environment for innovation. Distinguished academicians, comrades, and friends! The new journey of fully building a modern socialist country has begun, and the clarion call to march toward the Second Centenary Goal has sounded. Let us unite, dare to innovate, and strive with tenacity, making ever greater contributions to building China into a world leader in science and technology and to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!
Come Source: Communist Party Member Website
