2007-9-17

When meeting with six world-renowned scientists here in the afternoon of August 5, 2000, President Jiang Zemin pointed out that in the intense international competitions, China faces the grim tasks of optimizing economic structure, reasonable utilization of resources, protecting ecological environment, promoting coordinated development between regions, improving the quality of population, and the total elimination of poverty etc. The key is to vigorously develop China's science and technology to provide a powerful impetus and guarantee to economic development and social progress. We will unswervingly implement the "National Development through Science and Education" strategy and the sustainable development strategy, establish and improve the national innovation system, vigorously develop and actively attract talents, comprehensively improve the nation's scientific and cultural quality, advocate scientific spirit in the whole society, promote scientific and technological achievements to be changed into real productivity.
Jiang Zemin pointed out that in the 21st century, the ethical issues related to science and technology will become increasingly prominent. The core problem is that scientific and technological progress should serve the whole of mankind and the peace of the world and the lofty causes of development and progress, instead of harming human kind. Establishing and perfecting lofty scientific ethics, respecting and reasonably protecting intellectual property, guiding the research and utilization of science and technology through policies complying with the common interests of different nations, these are important issues to be solved by humankind in the 21st century.
The six internationally renowned scientists are Professor Yang Zhenning from Stony Brook Campus, the State University of New York, Professor Li Zhengdao from Columbia University, Professor Ding Zhaozhong, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor Marcus from California Institute of Technology, Professor Michel from German Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, these are five Nobel Prize winners and Fields Medal winner, and Professor Qiu Chengtong from Harvard University. All of them are foreign CAS academicians.
16:00, when six renowned scientists to enter the meeting hall, Jiang shook hands with them cordially. Jiang said he is pleased to have the opportunity to meet with them in Beidaihe. You are world-renowned scientists; you have made outstanding achievements in your respective areas of study. Over the years, you have promoted China's scientific research, training Chinese science and technology talents, especially young talents, and enhancing communications and cooperation between scientists in China and abroad. You have done a lot of work in these aspects. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you. Today, I would like to hear from your opinion on the development of science and technology in today's world and your views and suggestions on China's development of science and technology, particularly high-tech.
The six scientists talked freely on the science and technology development in the world at present and in the future, knowledge innovation and the scientific and technological development of China, and the training of young scientific and technological talents etc. President Jiang listened carefully to the scientists and delivered an important speech.
Jiang Zemin pointed out that in the 20th century, with the significant quick advances of science and technology and the progress of scientific concepts, human civilization made unprecedented achievements. The theory of relativity, the quantum theory, the genetic theory, the information theory, and other scientific and technological achievements provide new knowledge and strong power for correct understanding of the nature, for the development of worldwide productivity, and for the progress of human society, offering a broad prospect, having significant impact on the profound changes in the politics, economics, culture, and life of human kind. Now, the development of science and technology, in the field of material science it has entered the world of elementary particles, in the field of life science it has reached the molecular level, in the field of thinking science the main progress is made in math and brain intelligence science. This indicates that in the 20th century, mankind has made brilliant achievements in science and technology, as well as the worldwide development direction of science and technology in the 21st century. As the primary productive force, science and technology have become the most revolutionary force to promote economic development and social progress.
Speaking of the development prospect of science and technology in the 21st century, Jiang Zemin said that science and technology in the 21st century will develop forward more rapidly and thoroughly, having more profound impact on the human society and humankind itself. We should fully assess the tremendous role of science and technology in the future economic and social development. In the 21st century, information science and life science will be the most active sector developing the most quickly and having the most extensive influence; in the sectors of biotechnology, new materials, advanced manufacturing technology, clean and efficient energy, aerospace, and environmental protection, we will continue to make new breakthroughs; humankind will continue to research and explore the outer space, the oceans, and the Earth's deep, and will be more focused on the coordinated development of humankind, nature and society. With the progress of modern science and technology, mankind has many new scopes that were unimaginable, photonic computers, biological computers, and quantum computers, are examples. In the next century, scientific research should pay more attention to the global issues critical to the future and destiny of mankind, particularly we should enhance interdisciplinary research, approaching extreme conditions and primitive material and system integration, further enhancing the mutual penetration and integration of science and technology, forming important growth point of new science. Science and technology know no borders, and the research on the origin of universe, the essence of life, and the primitive nature of the material world requires huge investment of human, material, and financial resources than can be supported by one country alone. Therefore, we should vigorously enhance international scientific and technological communications and cooperation to complement advantages and share achievements.
Jiang pointed out that China is the largest developing country in the world, our per capita resources are insufficient, our development is very uneven, and the task of modernization is very heavy, requiring long-term strenuous efforts. We are making the 10th five-year plan that will guide the economic and social development of China for the first five years of the 21st century. To promote the development of science and technology, one important condition is to form a healthy system of scientific research, technological development, societal production and market demands, social input, and government support, and to form a cultural atmosphere in the whole society to respect knowledge, talent and innovation. We must continue to deepen reform, further enhancing the organic links between science, technology and production, promoting innovations in science, technology and knowledge.
Speaking of scientific and technological innovation, Jiang Zemin indicates that the nature of science is innovation. The whole of human history is a constant innovation and continuous improvement process. Without innovation, there will be no human progress, nor the future of mankind. The development of modern science and technology has strongly proved it. For China, it is critical to vigorously promote scientific and technological innovation and to leap forward in technological development. We must follow closely the trend of the world, focusing on the major scientific and technological issues of strategic, fundamental and critical role to the economy, technology, defense and social development of our country, concentrating on technological breakthroughs and independent innovation. Meanwhile, we should also enhance communicating and cooperating with the international science community, trying to learn and utilize advanced scientific and technological achievements of the world.
Jiang is very concerned about the issue of the ethics related to science and technology. He pointed out that science and technology improved the ability of humankind to control the nature and mankind itself. However, the utilization of science and technology is bringing increasingly adverse problems. The industrial development brings pollution to water and air, while large scale reclamation and overgrazing have damaged the ecology of forests and grasslands. The development of information science and life science proposes the ethic issues related to the dignity, health, genetic and ecological safety of humankind and environment protection, which arouses a lot of concern. The Internet can disseminate a great deal of useful information rapidly and widely, but there are also large quantity of rubbish information and false information. How to distinguish the real information from the distorted information on the Internet? Science and technology alone are difficult to do this.
Jiang finally said in today's world, mankind is faced with two major issues, one is the issue of peace, and the other is the issue of development. The solutions to both issues are closely related to the scientific and technological development. With the development of economic globalization and the scientific and technological advances, all countries are facing new opportunities and new challenges. The developing countries, especially the poor countries are facing more severe challenges. This situation must become a common concern of the governments of all countries. Now, the gap between North and South, the rich and the poor has become an increasingly prominent issue. Serious imbalance exists in the level of scientific and technological development between the developed countries and developing countries, exacerbating the north-south gap. The development of the information technology has promoted the rapid growth of the information industry, and driven the economic growth. But such growth and its resulted benefits are mainly concentrated in the developed countries. Large poor population in the world did not enjoy the benefits from the development of the information technology. With the development of science and technology, there should be more attention and focus on solving the issues related to the scientific and technological gap between the rich and poor countries, promoting countries to achieve common development and prosperity. To achieve this objective, the governments and the people of all countries including the scientists of the whole world should work together. We should strive to use scientific and technological achievements to relieve many countries and people from violence, ignorance, poverty and suffering, promote the blessing of peace and development for mankind.
After the meeting, Jiang feasted with the six world-renowned scientists.
Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing and Wen Jiabao were also in the meeting.
The six scientists are invited by the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) to participate into the advisory forum on the pilot work of the knowledge innovation project of CAS. They also made an academic report on the Knowledge Innovation Forum of CAS.
Mr. Liu Huaqiu and Lu Yongxiang and other leaders also attended the meeting.
Reported by Yang Zhenwu, reporter of People Daily, and Tan Guoqi, reporter of Xinhua News Agency