Staff members do nucleic acid tests at a lab in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 13, 2020. (Xinhua)
BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Friday encouraged scientific and technological workers across China to make new and greater contributions to building China into a global power in science and technology.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in replying to a letter by 25 representatives of sci-tech workers. He also called for efforts to achieve breakthroughs in key and core technologies.
Xi extended greetings to sci-tech workers across the country ahead of China's fourth national sci-tech workers' day, which falls on May 30.
Yuan Longping, a globally renowned agronomist, is interviewed by the media at his newly-launched workstation in Xiaolong Village of Guanyang County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)
A vast number of sci-tech workers have dedicated themselves to serving the country through their innovative thinking and practices, Xi noted.
He pointed out that innovation is the primary driving force for development, and science and technologies are powerful tools to overcome difficulties.
Zhong Nanshan, renowned Chinese respiratory specialist, attends a press conference on epidemic prevention and control work in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, March 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
Facing the sudden COVID-19 outbreak, sci-tech workers have risen up to challenges and worked day and night on the clinical treatment, vaccine research and development, material support as well as big data application, providing sci-tech support against the epidemic, Xi said.
Xi hoped that sci-tech workers across the country strive to resolve problems with key and core technologies, promote the in-depth integration of application, education and scientific research, reach the peak of science and technology and make new and greater contributions to building China into a global power in science and technology.
Ye Peijian (1st L), a leading Chinese aerospace expert and consultant to China's lunar exploration program, celebrates with his colleague after the landing of Chang'e-4 lunar probe at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
In November 2016, the State Council, China's cabinet, set down May 30 as the national sci-tech workers' day.
Recently, 25 representatives of sci-tech workers, including agronomist Yuan Longping, respiratory specialist Zhong Nanshan and space expert Ye Peijian, wrote to Xi to express their determination to make contributions in the new era of innovation and entrepreneurship. ■
