October 31, 2008 issue of "Science" magazine published an editorial written by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, "Science and China's modernization."
Modern history is the essence of the history of science and technological progress. Scientific discoveries and technological inventions have brought new civilizations, modern industries and the rise and rise and fall of nations. China is now engaged unprecedented in human history the process of modernization.
In the past half century, China's basic research and technological innovation has made great achievements. Now, China's international papers and the number of patent applications have been ranked highest in the world. China's manned space flight, high-performance computers, large-scale integrated circuits, and third-generation communication technology has also made a great success. Manufacturing accounted for 15% of the high-tech industry is booming.
16th century British philosopher Francis? Bacon to science as a means of improving the human destiny. Today, more than 300 million hectares of farmland planted hybrid rice developed by Chinese scientists, to meet China's hybrid rice has become a national food needs and the promotion of world cereal production in the "golden key." Science and technology in the realm of health development will raise China's average life expectancy in developed countries.
To encourage further innovation, the Chinese government formulated the "National long-term scientific and technological development (2006-2020)", stressing the basic sciences and frontier technologies, particularly in energy, water resources and environmental protection. We strive to information technology and new material, and the development of independent intellectual property rights, and emphasized the application of biotechnology to agriculture, industry, population and health.
Fundamentally speaking, China's technological future depends on how we attract and train young scientists and to develop their talents. Thus, the core of our science and technology policy is a wide variety of talent, especially young people to attract into science and provide a good environment for them to enable them to maximize creativity.
In science and technology, we will strengthen institutional reform, restructure scientific research, rational allocation of public resources, enhance innovation capability. We advocate active in the academic atmosphere of free discussion, encourage curiosity driven exploration and failure tolerated.
Science has no boundaries. China's efforts in science and technology need to integrate into the world, the world needs a dynamic and innovative China. As collisions generate sparks, exchange and communication rich imagination and creativity. Many Chinese scientists have stepped into the international academic arena, they and their foreign counterparts learn from each other, work together for the world contribute to the development of science and technology.
To encourage the public to grasp and use of science and technology, we must vigorously promote science and culture, promoting science and reason, cherish the traditional Chinese culture. To shine in science, the extensive and profound Chinese culture will be more brilliant.
I firmly believe that science is the ultimate revolution. The world economy is facing a huge impact on the global financial crisis, relying on technological progress to promote the real economy is particularly important. Economic and social development must rely on science, technology, science and technology must serve economic and social development. We will rely on science and technology to promote economic restructuring, reform and development model, to ensure that food and energy security, and address global climate change. We firmly believe that China will achieve fruitful results in science and technology, this will all of human civilization and well-being have positive and far-reaching impact.
Science 31 October 2008: |
Editorial
Science and China's Modernization
Wen Jiabao
CREDIT: AP
The history of modernization is in essence a history of scientific and technological progress. Scientific discovery and technological inventions have brought about new civilizations, modern industries, and the rise and fall of nations. China is now engaged in a modernization drive unprecedented in the history of humankind.
Over the past half century, China has made great achievements in basic science and technological innovation. It now ranks among the top nations in the annual number of papers published internationally and patent applications filed. China has also made achievements in such areas as manned space flight , high-performance computers, super-large-scale integrated circuits, and third-generation telecommunications technology. High-tech industry has experienced rapid growth, accounting for over 15% of the manufacturing industry.
Francis Bacon, the 16th-century English philosopher, referred to science as a means to improve humankind's lot. Today, the hybrid rice variety developed by Chinese scientists has been adopted for planting in over three million hectares and has become a "golden key" to meeting China's own food needs and boosting world cereal production. Scientific and technological development in the realm of health has also increased average life expectancy in China to that in developed countries.
CREDIT:
GETTY IMAGES
To encourage further innovation, the Chinese government has formulated a Mid-to Long-Term Plan for Development of Science and Technology (2006-2020), which highlights research in the basic sciences and frontier technologies, with priority given to energy, water resources, and environmental protection. We strive to develop independent intellectual property rights in areas of information technology and new materials, while strengthening the application of biotechnology to agriculture, industry, population, and health.
The future of China's science and technology depends fundamentally on how we attract, train, and use young scientific talents today. Thus, at the core of our science and technology policy is attracting a diverse range of talents, especially young people, into science and providing them with an environment that brings out the best of their creative ideas.
In the field of science and technology, we will intensify institutional reform, restructure scientific research, rationally allocate public resources, and enhance innovation capability. We advocate free academic debate under a lively academic atmosphere, where curiosity-driven exploration is encouraged and failure tolerated.
Science has no boundaries. China's endeavors in science and technology need to be more integrated with those of the world, and the world needs a China that is vibrant and able to deliver more in science and technology. Just as collisions generate sparks, exchange and communication enrich imagination and creativity. Many Chinese scientists have stepped into the international academic arena, where they and their foreign colleagues learn from each other and jointly contribute to the worldwide development of science and technology.
To encourage the learning and application of science among the general public, we need to embrace a scientific culture by promoting scientific rationality while cherishing Chinese cultural heritage. Enlightened by science, the rich and profound Chinese culture is bound to shine more gloriously.
I firmly believe that science is the ultimate revolution. At a time when the current global financial turmoil is dealing a heavy blow to the world economy, it has become all the more important to rely on scientific and technological progress to promote growth in the real economy . Economic and social development must rely on science and technology, and science and technology must serve economic and social development. We will rely on science and technology to promote economic restructuring, transform development patterns, safeguard food and energy security, and address global climate change . We are confident that China will reap a rich harvest in science and technology and that this will have positive and far-reaching effects on human civilization and the well-being of humankind.
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