In today's world, the science and technology development strategies of major nations impact not only their own countries but also the entire globe. China's choices in science and technology development strategies and policies are increasingly drawing the attention of the global scientific community.
From February 1 to 3, the World Top Scientists Summit will convene in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, under the auspices of the World Top Scientists Association. Seventy-one leading scientists, 26 presidents of top universities and hospital directors, and 22 young scientists from multiple countries will gather to engage in in-depth and open discussions centered on the theme “Basic Science: Addressing Challenges for Humanity's Future.”
In November 2017, I co-founded the World Top Scientists Association in Hong Kong, China, alongside Nobel laureates including Michael Levitt and Barry Sharpless. The following year, with strong support and promotion from the Chinese government, the inaugural World Top Scientists Forum opened in Shanghai, establishing itself as an annual highlight in the scientific community. President Xi Jinping extended congratulatory letters to the second and third World Top Scientists Forums and delivered video addresses, fully demonstrating China's high regard for advancing frontier scientific development and promoting international scientific cooperation.
In today's world, the science and technology development strategies of major nations impact not only their own countries but the entire globe. China's choices in science and technology development strategies and policies are increasingly drawing the attention of the global scientific community. In recent years, China has adhered to an open and cooperative philosophy, achieving significant progress in fundamental research, particularly in fields such as artificial intelligence, materials science, life sciences, and new energy. Leveraging market-oriented innovation mechanisms, a robust talent pool, and a broad application environment, China has made major breakthroughs in driving industrial innovation. Concurrently, China has established comprehensive scientific research infrastructure, national laboratories, and collaborative research networks, possessing the capacity to support major, long-term global scientific projects spanning multiple fundamental research domains.
Looking back at human history, science has gradually evolved into a primary driver of economic growth, reshaping the economic structures and cycles of the 20th century while directly influencing macroeconomic patterns and microeconomic models. As demonstrated by the epoch-making impact of smartphones, technological innovation has not only become a vital engine for economic growth but has also fundamentally transformed the daily lives of every individual. However, we must also recognize that humanity is navigating an era marked by unprecedented and intertwined challenges. While science continues to achieve major breakthroughs, it has also accumulated certain systemic, structural, and institutional risks. Artificial intelligence is exerting a comprehensive and accelerating influence on technology, fundamentally reshaping the scientific ecosystem. Humanity now stands at a crossroads, choosing the future direction of scientific development.
Scientific resources are inherently the crystallization of collective human wisdom. Before scientific truth, all people are born equal. Every individual should have the ability to access, openly use, and reuse scientific knowledge, thereby achieving equity and justice in the scientific domain. The primary objective of this summit is to foster a consensus on open science, making science a shared endeavor for all humanity. Open science aims to transcend the boundaries of nature, artificial intelligence, generations, national borders, value systems, and civilizations. It promotes the free flow and widespread sharing of scientific knowledge, building a new scientific framework adapted to the digital and intelligent era.
We believe that between now and 2050, the technological singularity of artificial intelligence development will formally arrive. The mission of modern science is to ensure this process propels the advancement of human civilization. Science's mission lies not only in explaining the world but also in propelling civilization toward higher levels. (Liaoxin News Agency)
(The author is the 2006 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and President of the World Top Scientists Association)

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)