Scientists vow to make breakthroughs

Academicians attending the second plenary session of the general assemblies of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering on Thursday said that President Xi Jinping's recognition of them as "the pride of the Party and the people" has deepened their sense of responsibility, with many pledging to devote themselves to frontier research, talent cultivation and strategic policy advice.

Addressing the plenary session, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang said that being elected as an academician is not only an honor, but also a duty, representing recognition of both academic achievement and ethical conduct. Ding encouraged academicians to uphold the spirit of scientists, foster a clean and upright research environment, tackle key scientific problems, and apply research achievements to the practice of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation.

The remarks followed Xi's speech at a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday in which he urged the CAS and the CAE to serve as national strategic science and technology forces and high-level think tanks, while calling on the China Association for Science and Technology to better serve scientific workers, innovation-driven development and sound policymaking by the Party and government.

Chen Jianfeng, a member of the CAE, said that Xi's recognition made him realize that the title of academician "carries far more than personal honor", and "also bears a significant historical responsibility".

In response to Xi's call for China to accelerate its transition from a participant in global science and technology to a pathfinder and leader, Chen said that achieving the country's goal of becoming a leading scitech power by 2035 requires a stronger sense of urgency, mission and responsibility.

"We must serve not only as researchers, but also as strategic advisers, contributing wisdom to national decision-making," he said.

Wu Kongming, a CAE member and agricultural entomologist, said that as major national projects grow more interdisciplinary and complex, the academy's role as a national high-level think tank has become increasingly important. By mobilizing academicians and experts across disciplines, the academy can provide stronger support in tackling complex scientific and engineering challenges, Wu said.

Li Xianhua, a member of the CAS and a researcher at the CAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics, said that Xi's expectation that academicians should be "ladders for the young" carried significance beyond personal honor.

"The president requires academicians to be 'ladders for the young' — mentoring and championing emerging talent. This is both our duty and vital to the nation's future of science and technology. Young researchers need a sound ecosystem, an academic atmosphere and institutional support. We will put scientists' spirit into practice and create fertile ground for them to grow," Li said.

Li also welcomed Xi's call to reform the sci-tech evaluation system, saying that research assessments should distinguish between basic and applied research, rather than relying excessively on publication and funding metrics.

Seeram Ramakrishna, an international CAE member and professor at Tsinghua University, said that the conference's emphasis on sustained investment in research and global scientific cooperation sends a clear signal that China will continue supporting innovation and talent development over the next decade. He added that China's openness has helped to bring together creative young researchers and experienced scientists from different disciplines, fostering the next wave of innovation.