Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Wang. Now the floor is open for questions. Please identify yourself before asking questions.

Xinhua News Agency:

The 20th CPC National Congress identified that education, science and technology, and human resources are the fundamental and strategic pillars for building a modern socialist country in all respects. How do you interpret that? How will the science and technology sector implement it? What are the next steps? Thank you.

Wang Zhigang:

Thank you for your questions. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress devoted a chapter to science and technology, education, and human resources for the first time in history. It suggests that we have developed new strategic thinking in resource allocation and supporting power and resources in our modernization drive. It is about how education, science and technology, and human resources combine to amplify their roles and jointly contribute to modernization. My view is that it is the result of grand strategic considerations. Without strength in education, science and technology, and human resources, there would not be a strong modern country. This reflects our deepening understanding of the law of building a strong modern country and our urgent need for strength in science and technology, education, and human resources in our modernization drive. These three aspects are decisive factors in a country's capacity for development and are of fundamental, far-reaching, and critical significance.

Earlier, education, science and technology, and human resources all played vital roles in the great cause of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. The plan for these three aspects at the 20th CPC National Congress requires that the three continue to play their roles and form synergy to play a greater role. The relationship between the three is that education is the basis, science and technology are the key, and human resources play an essential role. They are mutually reinforcing and revolve around the modernization drive and the goal of building a strong modern country. As indicated in the report to the Party's 20th National Congress, the three strategies regarding invigorating China through science and education, talent fostering, and innovation will be implemented systematically. Coordinated efforts will be made to achieve the three goals of building strength in human resources, science and technology, and education, so as to build a strong modern country. As we progress, the MOST is ready to work with all relevant departments and local governments to coordinate plans on the three strategies, efforts for the three goals, and resources in the areas of education, science and technology, and human resources, as well as relevant policies, to pool all our strength in our modernization drive and test the outcomes of coordinated development throughout the process.

The actions taken in the science and technology field should center on building a strong country in science and technology. First, we must have greater coordination in top-level design. To build a strong modern country, top-level design in this field should consider education and human resources. Second, we need greater coordination between science and technology and education and more efforts in talent cultivation. We need an overall plan for these three aspects. We have set up relevant mechanisms, The MOST plays the leading role in some cases and the supporting role in others. We should assume primary responsibility when playing the leading role and cooperate with relevant departments to do a good job when playing the supporting role. The emphasis should be placed on scientific and technological professionals. China needs many scientific and technological professionals of high caliber. We need the scientific and technological manpower to be rationally structured to adapt to the needs of the modernization drive, so that we can make innovations with Chinese characteristics and make the country powerful in industries, the economy, and national strength with strong human resources and science and technology capacity. Thank you.