China's hosting of the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) 2002 is of great significance, marking the improvement in the status of China's mathematics research, said nonagenarian Chinese American mathematician Shiing-Shen Chern Thursday in Beijing.

China will be the first developing country to host the ICM, also known as the "Olympics" of mathematicians and enjoying a history of over 100 years. The Beijing ICM is scheduled for August 20-28, Chairman of the ICM 2002 Wu Wenjun told the press.

The ICM, initiated in 1897 and held every four years, is the highest-level global seminar on mathematics, Wu said. The one-hour congress report and 45-minute report at every ICM symbolize the most important achievements in mathematics research of the time.

The 23 questions raised by German mathematician D. Hilbert at ICM 1900 are regarded as having influenced mathematics research for a whole century. At the opening ceremony of the ICM, the Fields Prize, or the "Nobel Prize for Mathematics," is due to be awarded.

Over 3,000 mathematicians from home and abroad are expected to attend the meeting, said Wu, noting that almost 20 one-hour reports and about 170 45-minute reports will be presented.

(People's Daily 08/16/2001)