Innovation and Openness, Key to China’s Sci-tech

SOCIETY/LIFE / TEN YEARS ON

Innovation

and Openness,

Key to China’s

Sci-tech

ProgressChinese eminent scientist Bai Chunli

talks about China’s initiatives to create

global platforms for sci-tech staff reporter ZHOU LINOST people make several phone calls a day and

very few keep records of the date and time. But

the call made between Austrian physicist Anton

Zeilinger, who won the Nobel Prize in phys-ics this year, and Bai Chunli, then president of the Chinese

Academy of Sciences (CAS), on September 29, 2017, has gone

down in the annals of quantum science as the first intercon-tinental quantum-secure communication video call. Bai was

in Beijing and Zeilinger in Vienna, and the communication

was possible through a sophisticated Chinese research satel-lite named

Micius, the world’s first quantum communication

satellite developed and launched into orbit by the CAS just

the year before.

Zeilinger is a CAS academician; so is American scientist K.

Barry Sharpless, who won his second Nobel Prize in chem-istry in 2022. Zeilinger is also an academician of The World

Academy of Sciences (TWAS), an Italy-based international

organization promoting scientific capacity and excellence for

sustainable development in developing countries. In Septem-ber 2012, Bai was elected president of TWAS, a position he

would hold for two consecutive terms till 2018, becoming the

first Chinese scientist to have that honor.

China Today recently had an interview with the eminent

scientist at the International Forum on South-South Coop-eration and Trade in Services in Beijing in September, where

he was wearing yet another hat: president of the Alliance of

International Science Organizations (ANSO) in the Belt and

Road Region. In this exclusive interview, Bai talked about

international cooperation in science and technology and

China’s efforts in creating global platforms for sci-tech Years of EffortsBai Chunli, president of

the Alliance of Interna-tional Science Organiza-tions (ANSO), delivers a

speech at the first Greater

Bay Area Science Forum

on December 11, called 2012 an epochal year in the history of science

in China. “That year, the CAS launched its going global strat-egy, aiming to elevate sci-tech exchanges and cooperation

with developing countries. Another big event was the 18th

National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in

November, where the CPC Central Committee decided that

promoting sci-tech innovation with a global vision would be

a national strategy.”The following year, President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt

and Road Initiative (BRI) and it received a positive response

from more than 100 countries. These were mostly countries

facing challenges on transitioning to sustainable and innova-Copyright©博看网. All Rights Reserved.

64CHINA TODAY

Staff members work at the general control center of the quantum communication line, known as the Beijing-Shanghai Trunk Line, connected to the

world’s first quantum satellite in Hefei, Anhui Province on May 19, -driven development. International

China is building up its

the establishment of the ANSO as a plat-cooperation in science and technology form for multilateral scientific coopera-strengths in science and

was regarded as a golden key for their tion was among the major deliverables of

development. In November 2016, Bei-technology, and striving

the hosted the first International Sci-to emerge as a leading

China is building up its strengths in

ence Forum of Scientific Organizations

country of e and technology, and striving to

on the BRI to discuss how to go about emerge as a leading country of innova-it. The forum decided to establish ANSO tion. Over the past decade, R&D expendi-as a permanent mechanism for sci-tech cooperation among ture grew rapidly under the national strategy of innovation-the BRI countries. Representatives from the CAS, UNESCO, driven development. In 2021, China ranked 12th in the Global

the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Polish Academy of Innovation Index, up from the 34th place in 2012. At the

Sciences among others signed to join the time, it is also promoting international exchange

“On November 4, 2018, we announced the official estab-and cooperation in science and nt of the ANSO,” Bai said. “President Xi sent a congrat-“Over the past two years, we have kept a close eye on

ulatory letter and Vice Premier Liu He attended the meeting.” global issues, such as climate change, public health, food se-There were 37 founding members, including international curity and the transformation of energy mix,” Bai said. When

organizations and national academies of sciences, national the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the secretariat of the ANSO

research institutions, and universities from 32 ed cooperation of its members on vaccine research,

As the first president of the ANSO, Bai is dedicated to focusing on the Phase III clinical trials of the recombinant

better aligning incentives for technological innovation with protein COVID-19 vaccine developed by the CAS.

development strategies, boosting sustainable socioeconomic Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, Minister of the Innovative

development, and building an international community with Development of Uzbekistan and also academician of TWAS,

a shared future in science and technology. At the second Belt has maintained close contacts with the ANSO. Thanks to his

and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in 2019, support, Uzbekistan approved the use of the Chinese vaccine

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November 202265

SOCIETY/LIFE / TEN YEARS ON

on March 2, 2021, saying that the Chinese vaccine is one of ample. The Tibetan Plateau and its surroundings, including

the safest and most effective vaccines of the highest mountains in Asia that are the sources of

When President Xi visited Uzbekistan in September ahead major rivers, is regarded as the Third Pole. The project, led by

of the 22nd Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organiza-CAS academician Yao Tandong and supported by UNESCO

tion in Samarkand, he mentioned this in a signed article and UNEP, assesses the environmental changes in this region

published in the local media. “Chinese vaccines, which can and the threats it faces. The project has built an international

now be jointly produced with Uzbekistan, have played a ma-cooperation system and observation network involving sci-jor role in Uzbekistan’s fight against the virus, and a Chinese entists from more than 30 countries. Meanwhile, five science

anti-virus drug has been approved for clinical use in Uzbeki-centers have been established in Beijing in China, Kathman-stan, providing effective protection for people’s life in both du in Nepal, Columbus in the United States, Gothenburg in

countries,” the article , and Frankfurt in Germany.

Today, the ANSO has 67 members from 48 countries and To foster the people-to-people exchange that is essential

regions. It has implemented 25 major international joint for international cooperation, Bai initiated the CAS Presi-scientific programs and set up a science foundation open dent’s International Fellowship Initiative and the CAS-TWAS

to research institutions across the world. President’s PhD Fellowship. The two

Research institutions from more than 70

A large number of academi-programs fund researchers from

countries have been involved in programs developing countries to study in

cians have made outstand-funded by the foundation. “We have built China for short-term scientific and

19 international professional platforms,

ing contributions to pro-technological exchanges. The CAS

including the Alliance of International

moting capacity building

and the University of the Chinese

Science Organizations on Disaster Risk

in scientific research in

Academy of Sciences worked with

Reduction, and the Association for Trans-the Danish Ministry of Science,

developing a Exchange and Silk Road Civiliza-Technology and Innovation and

tion Development, helping Chinese scien-eight Danish universities to found

tists play a greater role on the global sci-the Sino-Danish Center for Edu-tech stage,” said and Research with the aim of promoting academic

exchanges between China and Denmark. ANSO scholarships

Going Globalhave helped over 1,000 students working on doctoral and

In response to the BRI, the CAS has promoted cooperation master programs from more than 100 countries, facilitating

in such fields as health and biomedicine, water treatment, the mobility of talented scientists across the energy, climate change, and environmental and eco-In addition, the CAS has built 10 overseas science and ed-logical protection. ucation bases in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and set up

The cooperation focuses on three aspects: solving key five CAS-TWAS excellence centers to work in a wide range

technological problems in the construction of major projects of areas, from water and environment to biotechnology and

along the Belt and Road route; providing sci-tech solutions to disaster reduction and prevention. In 2013, the CAS South

improve the livelihoods of local people; and pooling research America Center for Astronomy was founded to develop col-resources for major scientific research. The CAS has thus laboration on astronomy research between China, Chile and

established an international cooperation network which other South American ates projects, researchers, and research platforms. The

Aiming Higherefforts enhanced China’s capability to participate in global

science and technology governance, as well as the country’s In September 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed

global influence and soft Global Development Initiative in his speech delivered

“A large number of academicians have made outstanding via video at the general debate of the 76th session of the

contributions to promoting capacity building in scientific re-UN General Assembly. Three months later, the first Greater

search in developing countries, and pushing forward South-Bay Area Science Forum (GSF) sponsored by the ANSO was

South cooperation and North-South cooperation. They have convened in Guangzhou in south China. In his congratula-also played a leading role in solving global issues,” Bai said. tory letter, Xi said the new round of sci-tech revolution and

The Third Pole Environment Research Program is an ex-industrial transformation has exerted a profound impact on

66CHINA TODAYCopyright©博看网. All Rights Reserved.

Bai Chunli, then president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, signs a joint statement with the visiting President of the Royal Society Sir Paul Nurse to

promote and support cooperative research between China and the U.K. on September 13, global economic structure. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area should revolve around its central

task of building an international sci-tech innovation center

and facilitate the development of emerging said the GSF has created a high-level exchange plat-form for statesmen, leading scientists, entrepreneurs, and

financial professionals to share their insights. Two Nobel

laureates and 130 well-known academicians shared their

latest research achievements on such topics as COVID-19

prevention and control and pharmaceutical R&D. Richard

John Roberts, winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in physiology

or medicine and chairman of the Laureate Science Alliance,

said that the R&D of COVID-19 testing reagents and vaccines

depended on the genome sequencing of the virus released

by Chinese researchers in early 2020. This is an excellent ex-ample of how scientific collaboration and cooperation can

help the whole world, he said.

What would be the key areas for future international co-operation in science and technology? Bai said the new energy

technology has huge potential and will speed up the transi-tion to a green, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy mix. Ar-tificial intelligence is another booming sector, given China’s

huge number of mobile Internet users and high penetration

of online payment. In the field of health sciences, disruptive

technologies that would lead to an industrial transformation

are emerging. For example, in brain science, which is seen as

the “last frontier” of natural science research, scientists have

mapped the human brain and realized direct control over

artificial limbs through brain-computer interfaces, laying the

foundation for creating new methods for the diagnosis and

treatment of neurological and mental an Island in Guangzhou has been chosen as the

permanent site for the GSF because of its ideal location,

which makes collaboration with Hong Kong and Macao, and

even beyond very convenient. Bai expects that the GSF will

be built into a Davos forum in science. “We will gather global

scientists, scientific organizations, and all sectors of society

to strengthen sci-tech cooperation, encourage innovation,

share achievements, and more importantly, break the bar-riers restricting the free flow of factors for production, such

as knowledge, technology, and talents,” he said. The ultimate

goal is “to build an open and inclusive innovation ecosystem”

and “make scientific achievements available to the people,

and shared and used by the people.”

C

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