 |
Applying Science, Tech No Fiction
President Jiang Zemin believes that because of intense international competition, China faces difficult hurdles ahead which can only be overcome if the country succeeds in the science and technology fields.
It must improve its economy, make better use of resources, protect the environment, promote development between different regions, improve the health and education of its people and do all it can to eliminate poverty.
"The key is to develop China's science and technology to provide momentum and guarantee economic growth and social progress,'' Jiang said on Saturday, while meeting with six renowned scientists in the seaside resort of Beidaihe, about 300 kilometres east of Beijing.
He said China will reinvigorate the nation through science and education and sustainable development. China will also establish and improve a national innovation system, train talented people and employ talented people from overseas.
It will also improve the scientific and cultural awareness of the entire nation, and encourage the Chinese people to be more aware of the role of science in society, and do more to translate scientific and technological results into productive forces.
The six scientists are five Nobel Prize laureates.
Chen Ning Yang, Tsung-dao Lee and Samuel Chao Chung Ting are all laureates of the Prize for Physics, Rudolph A. Marcus was awarded the Prize for Chemistry in 1992, Hartmut Michel is a German who won the prize for chemistry in 1988. Shing-tung Yau was awarded the Fields Prize in 1983. All six are foreign academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Jiang said science will become more and more prominent in the 21st century. The key point is that scientific and technological progress should serve mankind in world peace, development and progress, and should not harm human beings.
Of the utmost importance this century is the establishment and improvement of scientific ethics, respect and protection for intellectual property rights, and guiding scientific and technological research to benefit people all over the world, added Jiang.
The six scientists are in China for a three-day academic exchange with Chinese researchers at the invitation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The Chinese leader expressed his heartfelt thanks to the six, who have done a great deal of work to help China's scientific research, train the country's scientific and technical talent -- especially young talent -- and promote co-operation between Chinese scientists and their foreign counterparts.
The six scientists briefed Jiang on a wide range of issues concerning the development of science and technology around the world.
Noting that science and technology know no borders, Jiang said the study of space, life and the origin of the world needs a great amount of resources that exceed the scope of any single nation. Therefore, more effort should be made to enhance international scientific and technological co-operation.
President Jiang said that as the largest developing country in the world with inadequate resources and unbalanced development, China faces the arduous task of modernization requiring long-term hard work.
He pointed out that a prerequisite of pushing forward scientific and technological progress is to develop a sound mechanism integrating scientific research, technological development, manufacturing, market demand, investment and government support.
It is also important, he said, to foster a culture of respecting knowledge and talented people and encourage innovation.
He said it is vital that China makes a great effort to push forward scientific and technological innovation.
Jiang said he is very concerned with the issue of scientific ethics. He said science and technology have greatly improved the ability of human beings to control nature and themselves. However, more and more problems have occurred when science and technology are applied.
Jiang said mankind faces two big issues, peace and development. The solutions to these are entwined with the development of science and technology.
The development of information technology has promoted the rapid growth of the information industry and the economy. However, he said, the growth mainly benefit developed countries, not the large number of poor people in the world, said Jiang.
He added that the more science and technology develop, the more people should do to solve any scientific and technological gaps that exist between rich and poor countries, and promote the common development and prosperity of all countries.
To this end, it is necessary for all the world's governments, people and scientists to join hands, Jiang said, adding that "We should strive to use scientific and technological achievements to help many countries and people to eradicate violence, ignorance and poverty, and enhance peace and the development of mankind.''
In This Section
|