"Science Has No Borders, but Scientists Have A Motherland"*

Xi Jinping: "Science Has No Borders, but Scientists Have A Motherland"* On September 11, Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China hosted a symposium of scientists in Beijing and delivered a speech.

TODAY, WE ARE HOLDING A SYMPOSIUM parties are responsible to study and absorb them

for scientists to listen to your opinions and sug- carefully. Now, in conjunction with your speech-

gestions on promoting innovation-driven devel- es, let me make some comments.

opment and accelerating the pace of scientific

and technological innovation during the “14th 1. Fully understand the major strategic

Five-Year Plan” period and beyond. The scien- importance of accelerating scientific and

technological innovation tists and science and technology workers at-

tending today's symposium come from scientific Since the 18th Party Congress of the Communist

research institutes, universities, and enterprises, Party of China, we have attached great impor-

and are involved in basic research, and applied tance to scientific and technological innovation

research. There are also foreign scientists work- and insisted on taking innovation as the primary

ing in China. driving force for development. Through the col-

Just now, in combination with your respec- lective effort of the whole society, our country's

tive research fields, you have put forward many scientific and technological undertakings have

valuable opinions and suggestions on deepening made historic achievements and seen historic

the reform of the scientific and technological changes. Major innovations are emerging, and

system and promoting scientific and techno- some cutting-edge fields have begun to enter

logical innovation and development. Relevant and lead the stage. Our technological strength is

*The original text in Chinese is retrieved from Xinhua website: http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2020-09/11/c_1126483997.htm. Translated by BRIQ. Note: The text is titled by BRIQ.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, chairs symposium attended by scientists in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 11, 2020 (Yao Dawei / Xinhua).

moving from the accumulation of quantity to a novation. First of all, accelerating technological

qualitative leap, from the breakthrough of points innovation is needed to promote high-quali-

to the improve ment of system capabilities. Dur- ty development. Building a modern economic

ing the fight against the new crown pneumonia system, promoting quality change, efficiency

epidemic, a vast number of scientific and tech- change, and power change all require strong sci-

nological workers carried out scientific research entific and technological support.

in many important fields such as treatment, vac- Second, accelerating scientific and tech-

cine research and development, prevention, and nological innovation is needed to achieve a

control. They provided strong support and made high-quality of life for the people. At present,

major contributions to the overall promotion of the main social contradiction in our country has

epidemic prevention and economic and social been transformed into a contradiction between

development. I take this opportunity to express people's growing needs for a better life and un-

my heartfelt thanks to the scientific and techno- balanced and inadequate development. To sat-

logical workers! isfy the people's yearning for a better life, more

The world today is undergoing major scientific and technological innovations that in-

changes not seen in a century. Our country's volve people's livelihood must be introduced.

development faces a domestic and international Third, accelerating scientific and technolog-

environment of profound and complex chang- ical innovation is necessary to build a new devel-

es. Our country's development during the 14th opment pattern. To promote the domestic cycle,

Five-Year Plan period, as well as in the long we must adhere to the main line of supply-side

term, is raising ever more urgent requirements structural reform, improve the quality and lev-

for accelerating scientific and technological in- el of the supply system, and create new demand

with new supply. Technological innovation is and health, and continue marching towards the

key. To unleash domestic and international dual breadth and depth of science and technology.

circulation requires scientific and technological

strength to ensure the safety and stability of the 2. Accelerate the resolution of some key

industrial chain and supply chain. issues restricting the development of

scientific and technological innovation Fourth, accelerating scientific and techno-

logical innovation is necessary to successfully Our country has a large number of scientific and

start the new journey of building a modern so- technological workers and large-scale R&D in-

cialist country in an all-round way. From the in- vestments. It initially has the conditions to com-

itial proposal of the “four modernizations” to the pete on the same stage with the international ad-

present proposal of comprehensively building a vanced level in some fields. The key is to improve

modern socialist country, the modernization of the scientific and technological innovation eco-

science and technology has always been an im- system, stimulate innovation and creativity, and

portant part of our country's modernization. provide scientists and scientific and technologi-

cal workers. They set up a stage to display their

The key is to improve the scientific talents and make scientific and technological

and technological innovation innovation achievements emerge continuously.

ecosystem, stimulate innovation First, uphold demand-orientation and

and creativity, and provide scientists problem-orientation. The selection of scientif-

and scientific and technological ic research topics is the first problem that must

workers. be solved in scientific and technological work.

I have often said that the selection of research

Now, our country's economic and social direction should be demand-oriented, starting

development and the improvement of people's from the urgent national needs and long-term

livelihood require more scientific and techno- needs of the country, truly resolving practical

logical solutions than ever in the past, and it is problems. Engels said: “Once a society has a

even more necessary to enhance the primary technical need, this need will push science for-

driving force of innovation. At the same time, in ward better than ten universities.”

the face of fierce international competition and At present, our country's economic and soagainst the backdrop of rising unilateralism and cial development, improvement of the people's protectionism, we must take a path of innovation livelihood, and national defense construction that suits our national conditions. In particular, are confronting many practical problems that we must put the improvement of original innomust be resolved. For example, in agriculture, vation capabilities in a more prominent position we rely heavily on foreign countries for many and strive to achieve more “from zero to one”

breakthroughs. It is hoped that the majority of seeds, and the cultivation and processing tech-

scientists and scientific and technological work- nology of agricultural products is relatively

ers will shoulder their historical responsibilities backward. In some areas, agricultural non-point

and persist in facing the frontiers of world sci- source pollution and heavy metal pollution in

ence and technology, look toward the main eco- cultivated land are serious. In industry, some

nomic battlefield, look toward the major needs key core technologies are controlled by others,

of the country, look toward the people's lives and some key components, parts, and raw mate-

rials rely on imports. In terms of energy resourc- vantageous resources, and promote research on

es, the degree of dependence on foreign oil has key core technologies in important fields. Sev-

reached more than 70%. Oil and gas exploration eral national laboratories should be established,

and development, and the development of new and the existing state key laboratories must be

energy technologies are insufficient; the spatial reorganized to form a laboratory system in our

distribution of water resources is unbalanced, all country. It is necessary to give play to the im-

are causing many problems. In terms of society, portant role of universities in scientific research,

the aging of our country’s population has con- mobilize the enthusiasm of various scientific re-

tinued to deepen, the people’s requirements for search institutes, give play to the advantages of

a healthy life have continued to rise, and the lag- abundant talents and orderly organization, and

ging technology development in biomedicine, form a strategic force.

medical equipment, and other fields has become increasingly prominent. We must push forward the technologies that can rapidly push through and solve problems promptly. For technologies that are strategic and require long-term success, we must deploy them in advance. Second, integrate and optimize the allocation of scientific and technological resources. For scientific and technological innovation, the optimal allocation of scientific and technological resources is crucial. The success of the “Two Bombs and One Satellite”1 depended on a group of leading talent, and our country's powerful organizational system. We have a large number of scientists, academics, and world-class scientific researchers and engineers. We must

pay close attention to the construction of the in- Xi Jinping: “We must put education in an ever more

novation system, optimize the combination, and important position, comprehensively raise the quality of

education, and focus on fostering students' innovative

overcome the disadvantages of fragmentation, mentality and innovative abilities.” (Xinhua, 2019Xinhua (2019). The source article does not provide a separate full bibliographic entry for this citation.)

inefficiency, and duplication. We need a batch

of talented scientists who effectively leverage Third, persevere in strengthening basic

scientific research resources. It is necessary to research. Basic research is the source of tech-

give full play to the main role of enterprises in nological innovation. Although our country's

technological innovation, promote the concen- basic research has made significant progress,

tration of innovative elements in enterprises, the gap with the international advanced level

and promote the in-depth integration of produc- is still obvious. The root cause of many “bottle-

tion, education, and research. It is necessary to neck” technical problems that our country faces

give full play to the advantages of our country's is that basic theoretical research cannot keep up,

socialist system that can concentrate its efforts and the source and underlying issues have not

on major tasks, optimize the allocation of ad- been clarified. On the one hand, basic research

1 Editor's Note: Two Bombs and One Satellite is a Chinese nuclear and space project conducted during the Mao Tse-Tung period in 1960s. Through this

project, China tested its first atomic bomb in 1964 and its first hydrogen bomb in 1967. In 1970, China became the fifth country to launch its own satellite.

must follow the laws of scientific discovery, driv- Fourth, strengthen the education and

en by curiosity to explore the mysteries of the training of innovative talents. Talent is the first

world and encourage free exploration and full resource. The fundamental source of national

exchanges and debates. On the other hand, it scientific and technological innovation lies in

must be driven by major scientific and techno- people. It takes a decade to grow a tree, but a

logical issues to abstract theoretical issues from century to cultivate a person. We must put edu-

major applied research. We must further explore cation in an ever more important position, com-

the laws of science, so that basic research and prehensively raise the quality of education, and

applied research promote each other. It is nec- focus on fostering students' innovative mentality

essary to clarify the direction and development and innovative abilities. We must strengthen the

goals of our country's basic research field and build-up of basic disciplines such as mathemat-

continue to work for the long term. ics, physics, chemistry, and biology; encourage

higher education institutions meeting conditions to vigorously set up basic research and interdis-

Talent is the first resource. The ciplinary courses and specializations; strength-

fundamental source of national en undergraduate training in basic disciplines;

scientific and technological and explore models for continuous training

innovation lies in people. between undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral

levels in basic disciplines. We must strengthen

To increase investment in basic research, the training of top-notch students in basic dis-

first of all, the state financial investment must ciplines, build foundations in disciplines such as

increase, and at the same time, it is necessary to mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc.,

guide enterprises and financial institutions to and guide the most excellent students to dedicate

increase support in appropriate forms, encour- themselves to basic research. It is necessary to

age the society to invest in multiple channels strengthen basic research in colleges and univer-

through donations and fund establishments, sities, plan out the construction of cutting-edge

expand funding sources, and form a continu- science centers, and develop new research-orient-

ous, stable investment mechanism. For scientific ed universities. It is necessary to respect the law

research units and enterprises that have carried of talent growth and the law of scientific research

out effective basic research, necessary policy activities to cultivate a group of strategic scientific

support should be given in terms of finance, and technological talents, leading scientific and

banking, and taxation. It is necessary to create technological talents, and innovative teams with

a good scientific research ecology that is condu- international standards. We must attach great

cive to basic research, establish a sound scientific importance to the growth of young scientific

evaluation system and incentive mechanism, en- and technological talents so they can become the

courage scientific research personnel to eman- main force of scientific and technological inno-

cipate their minds, make bold innovations, and vation. It is necessary to gather first-class talents

allow scientists to concentrate on research. It is from all over the world, attract high-end overseas

necessary to run first-class academic journals talents, and provide internationally competitive

and various academic platforms, and strengthen and attractive environmental conditions for over-

domestic and international academic exchanges. seas scientists to work in China.

novation talent greater decision-making powers over technological pathways and funding use, and firmly eliminate “only papers, only job titles, only CVs, and only awards.” It is necessary to integrate the financial research investment system and change the state of divided, small, and scattered departments. We will comprehensively study and consider the issue of strengthening the overall coordination of scientific and technological forces raised by you. Sixth, strengthen international scientific Xi Jinping: "We need to be more proactive in integrating and technological cooperation. International

into the global innovation network and enhance our cooperation in science and technology is a major

technological innovation capabilities."

(Wang Jiangbo/China Daily) trend. We need to be more proactive in integrat-

ing into the global innovation network and en-

Fifth, relying on reforms to stimulate the hance our technological innovation capabilities

vitality of scientific and technological innova- through open cooperation. We must implement

tion. Our country's science and technology team a more open, inclusive, mutually beneficial, and

has great innovation potential, and the key is to shared international science and technology co-

effectively release this potential by deepening operation strategy.

the reform of the science and technology sys- On the one hand, we must persist in doing

tem. Transforming government functions is an our affairs well, continue to improve our capac-

important task of scientific and technological re- ity for independent innovation in science and

form. Many of our industrial supply chains need technology, build a “long board” in some areas

technological solutions. Only the thousands and of advantage, and consolidate the foundation for

thousands of scientific and technological work- international cooperation. On the other hand, it

ers and market players who are fighting on the is necessary to promote international scientific

front line can provide such solutions. What our and technological exchanges and cooperation

government must do is create a good environ- with more open thinking and measures. Under

ment for them, and provide basic conditions, the current situation, it is necessary to pragmat-

playing a good organizational and coordination ically promote international scientific and tech-

role. It is necessary to speed up the transfor- nological cooperation in the field of global pan-

mation of science and technology management demic prevention and control, and public health,

functions, and shift more energy from dividing and carry out research cooperation in the fields

money, dividing materials, and determining of drugs, vaccines, and testing. It is necessary to

projects to determining strategies, guidelines, focus on common issues such as climate change

policies, creating an environment, and improv- and human health to strengthen joint research

ing services. We must accelerate the advance of and development with scientific researchers

scientific research institute reform, entrust high- from various countries. It is necessary to grad-

er education institutions and scientific research ually liberalize the establishment of internation-

bodies with greater autonomy, give leading in- al science and technology organizations in our

country and foreign scientists to hold posts in der the important task of scientific and techno-

our country's science and technology academic logical innovation entrusted by history. Here, I

organizations so that our country will become a will emphasize patriotism and innovation.

broad stage for global scientific and technologi- Science has no borders, but scientists have

a motherland. The historic achievements of our cal open cooperation. country's scientific and technological undertakings are the result of generation after generation

Science has no borders, but of scientists who have dedicated themselves

scientists have a motherland. to serving the country. From Li Siguang, Qian

The historic achievements of our Xuesen, Qian Sanqiang, and Deng Jiaxian to

country's scientific and technological a large number of outstanding scientists who

undertakings are the result of grew up after the founding of New China, such

generation after generation of as Chen Jingrun, Huang Danian, and Nan Ren-

scientists who have dedicated dong, they are all models of patriotic scientists.

themselves to serving the country. Hope that the majority of scientific and techno-

logical workers will not forget their original in-

3. Forcefully carrying forward the tentions, keep their mission in mind, uphold the

scientist’s spirit national and people's interests first, inherit and

carry forward the excellent qualities of the older Scientific achievements are inseparable from generation of scientists in caring for the motherspiritual support. The spirit of a scientist is a land and serving the people, carry forward the precious spiritual wealth accumulated by sci- “Two Bombs and One Satellite” spirit, actively entific and technological workers in long-term undertake to bear the heavy burden of historic scientific practice. Since the founding of New responsibility, and merge their scientific pursuits China, a vast number of scientific and techinto the magnificent undertaking of building a nological workers have set up monuments of modern Socialist country. scientific and technological innovation in the Technological innovation, especially origimotherland, and they have also created a unique nal innovation, requires the capability of creative spiritual temperament. In May last year, the thinking, strict evidentiary methods, non-wor-

Party Central Committee issued the “Opinions ship of academic authority, not blindly follow-

Concerning Further Carrying Forward the Sci- ing existing theories, daring to challenge boldly,

entist’s Spirit, and Strengthening Work Style and build concrete evidence earnestly, and exper-

Learning Style Construction,” which required to iment constantly. Originality generally comes

vigorously promote the patriotic spirit of mind- from hypotheses and conjectures. It is a complex

ing the motherland and serving the people, and process of continuous observation, thinking,

the innovative spirit of bravely climbing the peak hypothesis, experiment, verification, and induc-

and being the first to pursue truth, the pragmat- tion, rather than simple induction. The creativ-

ic spirit of rigorous scholarship, the dedication ity of assumptions and conjectures is crucial.

spirit of being indifferent to fame and fortune, Einstein said: “Posing a question is often more

dedicated research, the spirit of gathering wis- important than solving a problem.” If it is not

dom to tackle key problems, the spirit of unity chosen correctly, even with great energy it is dif-

and cooperation, and the spirit of educating ficult to produce positive results. The vast num-

people willingly and rewarding. The majority of ber of scientific and technological workers must

scientific and technological workers must shoul- have the ambition to be creative, dare to propose

new theories, open up new fields, explore new methods, creating a large batch of young cohorts

paths, and work hard on originality. It is neces- equipped with scientific potential.

sary to produce more high-level original results Party committees and governments at all

to contribute to the continuous enrichment and levels and leading cadres at all levels must ear-

development of the scientific system. Scientif- nestly implement the Party Central Commit-

ic research, and especially basic research, often tee’s decision and deployment on technological

start from scientists' curiosity to investigate the innovation, implement the innovation-driven

profound mysteries of nature. In practice, all sci- development strategy, respect labor, knowledge,

entists achieving prominent achievements rely talent, and creativity, follow the laws of scientific

on perseverance, curiosity, a sense of dedication, development, and promote scientific and tech-

and a life-long exploration to achieve their cause. nological innovation results that are constantly

Studies have shown that scientists' advantages emerging, and transformed into actual produc-

are not only based on intelligence but more im- tivity. Leading cadres must strengthen the learn-

portantly, focus and diligence. After long-term ing of new scientific knowledge and pay atten-

exploration, they form an advantage in a certain tion to global technological development trends.

field. It is necessary to encourage scientific and Marx said: “There is no smooth road in

technological workers to concentrate on their science. Only those who are not afraid of hard

scientific research, study diligently, do not seek work and climb steep mountain roads can hope

vanity, and do not consider fame or fortune. It is to reach the culmination of glory.” I believe that

necessary to widely publicize the vivid deeds of our country's scientists and technology workers

scientific and technological workers who dare to have the confidence, have the determination,

explore and devote themselves to science. Curi- and have the capability to climb the peaks of

osity is human nature. The guidance and train- science, and properly contribute to realizing the

ing in scientific interests must be started from great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the

childhood to ensure a better understanding building of a community with a shared future for

of scientific knowledge and grasp of scientific mankind!

Chinese President Xi Jinping meet with representatives of the award winners before an annual ceremony to honor distinguished scientists, engineers and research achievements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 10, 2020. (Li Xueren/Xinhua)