ZHOU JI
President
Chinese Academy of Engineering
Dear President Vest,
Respected Members, experts,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, I would like to extend warm congratulations on the convening of the Workshop on Global Navigation Satellite Systems and a heartfelt welcome to all both from China and the United States.
As we all have witnessed, China has achieved great and historical achievements ever since it carried out the reform and opened up. At present, China’s development is reaching a critical turning point. The Chinese Government clearly stated that China will go ahead under the theme of scientific development, and its main line will focus on accelerating the transformation of the mode of economic development. The acceleration of the transformation fundamentally counts on the force of science and technology, and the most critical task is to improve an independent innovation capability.
In the course of speeding up the transformation, China, on the one hand, will have to make good use of advanced engineering technology, remake and upgrade traditional industries, build up a modern industry system, and thus fundamentally enhance the overall scientific and technological quality and integrated competitiveness of the industries. On the other hand, China will have to cultivate and develop new industries of strategic importance and foster new sources of economic growth while taking innovation as a driving principle. In 2010, the Chinese Government enacted the Decision of Speeding Up the Cultivation and
Development of Strategic Emerging Industries. The Decision identifies seven major strategic emerging industries to be fostered and developed in the present stage: energy saving and environmental protection, new-generation information technology, biology, high-end equipment manufacturing, new energies, advanced materials, and new energy vehicles.
The Global Navigation Satellite System and its applications will constitute an important component of strategic emerging industries. As an important space infrastructure, GNSS will bring huge social and economic benefits to human beings. This technology is now increasingly penetrating into human life, society, and economy. Given the fact that China is a country with a large population and vast territory, to develop GNSS will make contributions to the enhancement of Chinese living standards and to the establishment of a harmonious society. It is of great significance to promote the development of China’s strategic emerging industries.
Chinese culture values harmony as most precious and seeks harmony but not uniformity. For example, in Chinese families, we believe “harmony brings wealth” and, with regard to relationships, such as those between individuals or between nations, Chinese people value exchanges, cooperation, and a win-win. That is also the essence of the Chinese culture, which is deeply rooted in the consciousness of Chinese people and is reflected in the concept of scientific development. We expect a peaceful development, and we try to closely integrate China’s development with the common prosperity of all other countries and jointly build a harmonious world.
In January 2011, Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a visit to the United States and carried the friendship from 1.3 billion Chinese to the American people. The visit fully demonstrated the Chinese people’s good will to strengthen dialogues, enhance mutual trusts, expand exchanges, and deepen cooperation. The United States and China have signed cooperative agreements in a number of scientific and technological fields that involve energy-efficient buildings, clean coal, and electric vehicles. They will become new chapters in scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.
Centering on the issues of engineering, science, and technology of mutual interests, the Chinese Academy of Engineering would like to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, continue to improve cooperative levels, expand cooperative fields and scopes, and contribute intelligence and strength to the friendship between the two countries and to the prosperity of the whole world and human civilization.
Finally, I wish the workshop a complete success!
