Academicians, comrades and friends,

This conference is a scientific and technological event held at a critical period when the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation are being comprehensively promoted with Chinese-style modernization. First of all, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the collectives and individuals who have won the 2023 National Science and Technology Awards! I would like to extend my sincere greetings to the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the vast number of scientific and technological workers! I would like to extend a warm welcome to the foreign academicians and friends from the international scientific community!

If science and technology are prosperous, the nation will be prosperous, and if science and technology are strong, the country will be strong. Our party has always attached great importance to the development of science and technology. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee has deeply promoted the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy, put forward the strategic task of accelerating the construction of an innovative country, established the goal of building a strong country in science and technology by 2035, continuously deepened the reform of the scientific and technological system, fully stimulated the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of scientific and technological personnel, and vigorously promoted scientific and technological self-reliance and self-reliance. New breakthroughs have been made in basic frontier research, and a number of major original achievements have been made in the fields of quantum science and technology, life science, material science, space science, etc., the two core conjectures of differential geometry have been successfully proved, chemical small molecules induce human cells to reprogram, and carbon dioxide artificial synthesis of starch has achieved "technological creation". The strategic high-tech field ushered in a new leap forward, with "Chang'e" reaching the moon, "Tianhe" staying in the sky, "Tianwen" exploring fire, "Crust No. 1" advancing into the depths of the earth, and "Struggler" exploring the 10,000-meter deep sea, and the world's first fourth-generation nuclear power plant being put into commercial operation. Innovation-driven high-quality development has achieved new results, emerging industries such as integrated circuits and artificial intelligence have flourished, the first 6G satellite has been successfully launched, Beidou Navigation provides global precision services, domestic large aircraft have achieved commercial flight, high-speed rail technology has set an international benchmark, new energy vehicles have added new impetus to the global automotive industry, and biological breeding, new drug creation, and green and low-carbon technologies have helped food security, healthy China, and the construction of a beautiful China. The reform of the scientific and technological system has opened up a new situation, the scientific and technological management system has been reshaped, the national strategic scientific and technological forces have been accelerated, and the vitality of innovative subjects and talents has been further released. New progress has been made in international openness and cooperation, China has taken the initiative to launch international science and technology cooperation initiatives, and taken the lead in organizing international major science programs, and China's influence as an important pole of global innovation has continued to increase. All these have laid a solid foundation for building a scientific and technological power.

In the practice of the development of science and technology in the new era, we have continuously deepened our understanding of regularity and accumulated many important experiences. The main ones are: adhering to the overall leadership of the Party, strengthening the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over science and technology work, observing the overall situation, planning the overall situation and grasping the fundamentals, and ensuring that the development of science and technology undertakings is always moving forward in the right direction. Adhere to the road of independent innovation with Chinese characteristics, based on self-reliance, hard work, and give full play to the advantages of China's socialist system of centralized power to do big things, to promote the high level of scientific and technological self-reliance and self-reliance, and the scientific and technological lifeblood and the initiative of development is firmly in their own hands. Adhere to innovation to lead development, firmly grasp the concept that innovation is to grasp development, and innovation is to seek the future, and scientific and technological innovation to lead high-quality development and ensure a high level of security. Adhering to the strategic orientation of “four directions”, facing the world's scientific and technological frontiers, facing the main battlefield of the economy, facing the country's major needs, and facing the people's lives and health, we have strengthened the deployment of the whole chain of scientific and technological innovation and the layout of the whole field, so as to comprehensively enhance the strength of science and technology and innovation capability. Adhere to deepening reform to stimulate innovation vitality, resolutely break down the ideological and institutional barriers that constrain scientific and technological innovation, and effectively transform institutional advantages into competitive advantages in science and technology. We insist on promoting the virtuous circle of education, science and technology talents, coordinating the implementation of the strategy of developing the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the country through talents, and the strategy of innovation-driven development, and promoting the development of education, scientific and technological innovation, and the cultivation of talents as a whole. We will insist on fostering a culture of innovation, passing on the innovative genes of the excellent traditional Chinese culture, creating a favorable environment that encourages exploration and tolerates failure, so that the reverence for science and the pursuit of innovation will become a trend in the whole society. We insist on openness and cooperation in science and technology for the benefit of mankind, pursue a mutually beneficial and win-win opening-up strategy, and contribute Chinese wisdom and strength to addressing global challenges and promoting the development and progress of mankind. These experiences are invaluable and must be persisted in the long term and continuously enriched and developed in practice.

Academicians, comrades and friends!

At present, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is developing in depth. Scientific research expands to the extreme macro, to the extreme micro, to extreme conditions, and to the extreme comprehensive, and constantly breaks through the boundaries of human cognition. Technological innovation has entered an unprecedented period of intensive activity, and cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and biotechnology have emerged in a concentrated manner, triggering chain changes. At the same time, the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, the scientific and technological revolution and the great power game are intertwined, and the high-tech field has become the forefront and main battlefield of international competition, profoundly reshaping the global order and development pattern. Although China has made great progress in the development of science and technology, the original innovation ability is still relatively weak, some key core technologies are controlled by others, and there is a shortage of top scientific and technological talents, so we must further enhance the sense of urgency, further increase the intensity of scientific and technological innovation, and seize the commanding heights of scientific and technological competition and future development.

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) clarified the central task of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. Chinese modernization is supported by scientific and technological modernization, and high-quality development depends on scientific and technological innovation to cultivate new momentum. We must fully understand the strategic leading position and fundamental supporting role of science and technology, anchor the strategic goal of building a strong country in science and technology by 2035, strengthen top-level design and overall planning, and accelerate the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-reliance.

The science and technology power we want to build should have the world's leading scientific and technological strength and innovation capabilities, support the overall leap in economic strength, national defense strength and comprehensive national strength, enhance human well-being, and promote global development. It must have the following basic elements: First, it must have strong basic research and original innovation capabilities, and continue to produce major original and disruptive scientific and technological achievements. Second, it has strong key core technology research capabilities, which strongly supports high-quality development and high-level security. Third, it has a strong international influence and leadership, and has become an important scientific center and innovation highland in the world. Fourth, it has a strong ability to cultivate and gather high-level scientific and technological talents, and continuously expand the international top scientific and technological talent team and national strategic scientific and technological forces. Fifth, it has a strong scientific and technological governance system and governance capabilities, and forms a world-class innovation ecology and scientific research environment.

Academicians, comrades and friends!

It is now only 11 years away from achieving the goal of building a scientific and technological powerhouse. With the firm determination and tenacious will of "sharpening a sword in ten years", we must seize the day, immerse ourselves in hard work, and turn this strategic goal into reality step by step.

First, we should give full play to the advantages of the new national system and accelerate the promotion of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-reliance. It is necessary to improve the system of centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over scientific and technological work, strengthen the overall planning of strategic planning, policy measures, major tasks, scientific research forces, resource platforms, regional innovation, etc., build a coordinated and efficient decision-making and command system and organization and implementation system, and gather a strong joint force to promote scientific and technological innovation. It is necessary to give full play to the decisive role of the market in the allocation of scientific and technological resources, give better play to the role of the government in all aspects, mobilize the enthusiasm of all aspects of production, education and research, and form a work pattern of jointly promoting the research of key core technologies. It is necessary to strengthen the construction of national strategic scientific and technological forces, optimize positioning and layout, improve the national laboratory system, and enhance the integration capacity of the national innovation system. It is necessary to maintain strategic concentration, persist in doing something and leaving others undone, highlight the national strategic needs, implement the strategic deployment of science and technology in a number of important areas, condense and implement a number of new major science and technology projects, form a competitive advantage, and win the strategic initiative. It is necessary to improve the degree of organization of basic research, improve the investment mechanism that combines competitive support and stable support, strengthen the collaborative research on major scientific problems, and at the same time encourage free exploration, strive to put forward original basic theories, master the underlying technical principles, and build a solid foundation and foundation for scientific and technological innovation.

Second, we should solidly promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation to help develop new quality productive forces. The basis of integration is to increase the supply of high-quality technology. It is necessary to focus on the key areas and weak links in the construction of a modern industrial system, and increase technological research and development efforts in view of bottlenecks and constraints such as integrated circuits, industrial machine tools, basic software, advanced materials, scientific research instruments, and core provenances, so as to provide scientific and technological support for ensuring the independent, safe and controllable supply chain of important industrial chains and supply chains. It is necessary to aim at the commanding heights of future scientific and technological and industrial development, accelerate scientific and technological innovation in the fields of new generation information technology, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, new energy, and new materials, and cultivate and develop emerging industries and future industries. It is necessary to actively use new technologies to transform and upgrade traditional industries, and promote high-end, intelligent and green industries.

The key to integration is to strengthen the main position of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation. It is necessary to give full play to the leading role of leading enterprises in science and technology, encourage small and medium-sized enterprises and private enterprises to innovate in science and technology, and support enterprises to take the lead or participate in major national science and technology projects. It is necessary to guide enterprises to work closely with universities and scientific research institutions, jointly condense scientific and technological problems for industrial needs, jointly carry out scientific research, and jointly cultivate scientific and technological talents, so as to promote enterprise-led industry-university-research integration and innovation.

The way of integration is to promote the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements. It is necessary to rely on the advantages of China's industrial foundation and super-large-scale market, strengthen the construction of the national technology transfer system, improve policy support and market services, promote the promotion and application of independent research products and iterative upgrading, so that more scientific and technological achievements can be transformed from samples into products and industries. It is necessary to do a good job in science and technology finance, and guide financial capital to invest early, small, long-term, and hard technology.

Third, we should comprehensively deepen the reform of the scientific and technological system and mechanism, and fully stimulate the vitality of innovation and creativity. It is necessary to adhere to the combination of goal-oriented and problem-oriented, and deepen the reform of the scientific and technological management system, coordinate the construction of various innovation platforms, and strengthen the overall planning and force organization of innovation resources in view of the low degree of organization and coordination of scientific and technological innovation in China, and the scattered and duplicative scientific and technological resources. Improve the layout of regional scientific and technological innovation, strengthen the coordination and linkage between the central and local governments, and create an innovation highland with global influence. It is necessary to improve the management of science and technology plans, deepen the reform of the mechanism for the allocation and management of science and technology funds, give greater autonomy to scientific research units and scientific research personnel, and enhance the efficiency of investment in scientific and technological innovation.

In recent years, positive progress has been made in easing restrictions and reducing the burden on scientific researchers, but many scientific researchers have reported that various non-academic burdens are still heavy. It is necessary to adhere to the combination of "breaking the four onlys" and "setting new standards", and speed up the improvement of the classification and evaluation system and assessment mechanism that conform to the laws of scientific research activities. It is necessary to improve the incentive system of science and technology awards, income distribution, and achievement empowerment, so that more outstanding talents can get reasonable returns and release innovation vitality. It is necessary to continue to rectify the trend of indiscriminate distribution of "hats" and "brands", so that scientific research personnel can concentrate on research without distractions, and effectively reduce the distraction and sadness for applying for projects, issuing papers, evaluating awards, and competing for resources.

Fourth, we should promote the development of educational technology talents and build a competitive advantage for talents. Scientific and technological innovation depends on talents, talent training depends on education, and education, science and technology, and talents are intrinsically consistent and mutually supportive. It is necessary to strengthen the concept of systems, deepen the integrated reform of the system and mechanism of education, science and technology, and talents, improve the mechanism for coordinating science and education in educating people, and speed up the cultivation of a large-scale, rationally structured, and high-quality contingent of innovative talents.

At present, the structural contradiction of the mismatch between the supply and demand of talent training and scientific and technological innovation in China is more prominent. It is necessary to adhere to the demand for scientific and technological innovation as the traction, optimize the discipline setting of colleges and universities, innovate the talent training model, and effectively improve the level and quality of independent training of talents. It is necessary to speed up the construction of national strategic talent force as the top priority, focus on cultivating strategic scientists, first-class scientific and technological leaders and innovation teams, and focus on cultivating outstanding engineers, craftsmen and high-skilled talents. It is necessary to give prominence to strengthening the cultivation of young scientific and technological talents, fully trusting them, letting them go, carefully guiding them, and caring for them, so as to promote more young top-notch talents to stand out.

It is necessary to implement a more active, more open and more effective talent policy, accelerate the formation of an internationally competitive talent system, and build an innovation highland that gathers global wisdom resources.

The growth and development of talents is inseparable from the nourishment of the soil of innovation culture. It is necessary to continue to create a social atmosphere of respect for labor, knowledge, talent, and creation, vigorously promote the spirit of scientists, and encourage the vast number of scientific research personnel to have lofty aspirations, patriotic dedication, and innovation. It is necessary to strengthen the building of scientific research integrity and work style and style of study, and promote the formation of a clean and upright scientific research ecology.

Fifth, we should deeply practice the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and promote openness and cooperation in science and technology. Scientific and technological progress is a global and epochal issue, and only openness and cooperation are the right way. The more complex the international environment is, the more important it is for us to open our minds and open our doors, coordinate openness and security, and achieve self-reliance and self-reliance through openness and cooperation.

It is necessary to deeply implement the international scientific and technological cooperation initiative, broaden the channels of government and non-governmental exchanges and cooperation, give full play to the role of platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative, take the lead in organizing international major scientific programs and projects, and support scientific researchers from various countries to jointly tackle key problems. We need to actively integrate into the global innovation network, deeply participate in global science and technology governance, work with other countries to create an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory international environment for science and technology development, and jointly address global challenges such as climate change, food security and energy security, so that science and technology can better benefit mankind.

Academicians, comrades and friends!

To build a strong country in science and technology, the science and technology front has a heavy responsibility and a glorious mission! It is hoped that the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as outstanding representatives of the scientific and technological circles, will charge ahead, bravely shoulder heavy burdens, and be good pioneers of the frontier of science and technology, leaders of major tasks, leaders of the growth of young talents, and demonstrators of the spirit of scientists, so as to make new contributions to the development of China's science and technology! It is hoped that the majority of scientific and technological workers will consciously integrate academic pursuit into the great cause of building a strong country in science and technology, forge ahead, pursue excellence, and create new achievements worthy of the times and the people!

Building a strong country in science and technology is the common responsibility of the whole party and the whole country. Party committees and governments at all levels must conscientiously implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, earnestly strengthen the organization, leadership, and scientific management of scientific and technological work, and make every effort to provide service guarantees. Leading cadres at all levels should attach importance to learning new knowledge in science and technology and enhance their ability to lead and promote science and technology work.

Academicians, comrades and friends!

Building China into a powerful country in science and technology has been the dream of the Chinese nation since modern times, and generation after generation of Chinese sons and daughters have worked tirelessly and unremittingly for it. Now, the baton of history has been handed over to our generation. We must establish ambitions, work hard, work hard, work in unity, and move forward bravely towards the grand goal of building a strong country in science and technology!