Premier Li Keqiang stressed on Monday the need to place more emphasis
on the development of fundamental disciplines such as mathematics and
physics, shore up fundamental research and further stimulate the
creativity of scientists and researchers.
Li's comments came as he presided over a symposium in Beijing to
solicit opinions from professionals in higher education, science and
technology, healthcare and sports on the drafts of the Government Work
Report and the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social
Development (2021-25) and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year
2035.
Seven people, including a university president, an actor, an Olympic
champion and the manager of a rice cooperative, were invited to speak at
the State Council meeting.
Li heeded suggestions from Luo Jun, president of Sun Yat-sen
University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and Fang Zhong, an
academician in physics with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
It is important to strengthen weak areas in the compulsory education
system so that children from rural and remote areas have access to
better and more equal opportunities, Li said.
Universities and high schools must give stronger emphasis to
mathematics and physics to give students a more solid theoretical
foundation and foster more innovative talent, he said.
After listening to Wang Hang, founder and CEO of Haodf, one of
China's largest online healthcare companies, Li highlighted the need to
continue to strengthen the public health system and give a bigger boost
to Internet Plus healthcare initiatives.
Zhu Ting, a gold medalist in volleyball at the Rio de Janeiro
Olympics in 2016, spoke about the training of reserve talent in sports.
The premier agreed, calling it important to strengthen youth training
in fundamental skills and encourage the private sector to offer more
high-quality sports products and services.
Li said China has secured remarkable achievements in coordinating
pandemic containment and socioeconomic growth, which embodies the
nation's people-first philosophy and the strength of the people. The
people power growth and progress, and the country must continue to
uphold a people-centered approach to better pool the public's wisdom and
secure continuous new progress in social undertakings in the next five
years, he said.