— Speech by Vice President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the 28th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union

(Beijing, China, August 21, 2012)

Today, more than 2,000 astronomers from all over the world gather together in Beijing to attend the 28th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). This is a grand event for astronomy. It is the first time for China to host an IAU General Assembly since China joined the IAU in 1935. On behalf of President Hu Jintao, the Chinese Government and the Chinese people, I am here to express our warm congratulations to this general assembly and express our sincere gratitude and cordial welcome to all attendants.

Astronomy, a scientific exploration of the universe, is one of the most important and most active scientific frontiers to push forward the natural sciences and technology and bring about advances in modern society. It has tremendously influences on the progress of other branches of natural science and the development of technology. The vast expanse of space always stirs the curiosity of human beings, fascinates them, and has inspired generation after generation to devote itself to the exploration of the universe. A science to study the position, distribution, motion, morphology, structure, chemical composition, physical properties, origin, and evolution of the celestial bodies and matters in the universe, astronomy occupies an important position in the understanding and transformation of the world. As we see, every major discovery in astronomy has deepened our understanding of the mysteries of the universe, every significant achievement in astronomy has enriched our knowledge repository and every breakthrough in cross-disciplinary research between astronomy and other sciences has had an immediate and far-reaching impact on fundamental science and human civilization.

As one of the world's oldest civilizations, the ancient Chinese used to work after sunrise and rest after sunset and started to gaze at the starry sky early on. At the end of the Warring States period more than 2,300 years ago, the great romantic poet Qu Yuan in his Inquiries of Heaven queried, "Whoever has conveyed to us, Stories of the remotest past? Who can verify the shapeless, beginning time has overcast?'' Our ancestors already built their astronomical observatories as early as the 13th century B.C. or even earlier, and we have kept the longest and most comprehensive records of astronomical phenomena in the world. Modern astronomy in China started 90 years ago with the founding of the Chinese Astronomical Union in 1922, the Chinese Astronomical Research Institute in 1928, and the Purple Mountain Observatory in 1934. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since its reform and opening up, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has established a systematic operating mechanism of modern astronomical observatories. After building the large sky area multi-object fiber spectroscopic survey telescope (LAMOST), it is now constructing a 500-meter spherical radio telescope (FAST), and is also making progress in space astronomy and Antarctic astronomy.

The advancement of astronomy is made possible by the effort of all humankind and manifests its wisdom. The history of the development of astronomy has offered us profound enlightenment.

First, the development of science and technology is the driving force for humankind's exploration and transformation of the materialistic world. Science and technology are the most revolutionary factor in economic and social development. Every grand advancement of human civilization is closely related to a revolutionary breakthrough in science and technology. The development of science and technology has profoundly changed the way people live and work, and science and technology are becoming the main driving forces for economic and social progress. To achieve sustainable development and wholesome development of human beings, it is critical to rely on scientific progress and technological innovation.

Second, the development of science and technology requires persistent exploration and long-term knowledge accumulation. The exploration of the universe's mysteries should be endless, as in the other sciences. Science and technology, and their achievements in the exploration and transformation of the world, are the products of scientists only after persistent exploration. Only by working with full devotion, exploring relentlessly and continuing to build on the shoulders of giants can one reach the pinnacles of science and allow humanity to progress.

Third, the development of science and technology requires an ongoing emphasis on and a strengthening of basic research. As an observational science, astronomy is a very crucial field of basic research. Such a field requires strategic planning, with full support of research activities and their long-term benefits. We will make larger investments in the discipline and provide long-term and stable support to scientists so that they can discover, invent, create, and further their achievements for all humanity.

Fourth, the development of science and technology requires broad and sound support from the public. Science and technology are a noble cause that both benefit and depend on society. Its full development requires not only public understanding but also its active participation. Public outreach should be given equal emphasis with scientific research in order to educate the public. Doing so would create a positive atmosphere for the public to respect, love, learn and use science and to inspire creativity and technological innovation.

Fifth, the development of science and technology requires extensive international cooperation. Science and technology do no belong solely to a single nationality. The vast expanse of space is the shared home of all humankind. Exploring this vast universe is a common goal for all of us. The challenges for science and technology today are increasingly globalized. We are faced with problems in energy and resources, ecological environments, climate change, natural disasters, food security, public health, and so on. Both basic research in astronomy and in the aforementioned areas require scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation in various forms between different nations and jurisdictions in order to push forward scientific and technological innovation, human civilization and sustainable development.

Today's world is an open world, and countries are intertwined like never before. In the past 30 years, China opened its gate not only to economic development but also for exchanges and cooperation in science and technology. Since the start of the 21st century, China has hosted a series of important international conferences in natural sciences and engineering, such as the International Congress of Mathematicians and the World Engineers' Convention. This opening up has greatly broadened the international horizon of China's science and technology community, deepened the world's understanding of China and promoted mutual exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese and the world. It has also created favorable conditions for the Chinese science and technology community to make contributions globally.

The opening of the 28th IAU General Assembly in China, I believe, will promote friendship between Chinese astronomers and astronomers from around the world. It will promote exchange and cooperation between the Chinese and international astronomy communities and the development of astronomy and related sciences in China. This convention, I'm sure, will inspire curious youngsters from all over the world, including China, to focus their attention on the vast universe and encourage further study in astronomy and to scientific and technological innovations.

Finally, I wish this general assembly a great success and wish astronomers from all countries to explore the vast universe hand-in-hand and to work together toward a better future for humanity.