Premier Li Keqiang chaired a symposium on the work of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars on September 2nd and pointed out that basic research determines the depth and breadth of a country’s scientific and technological innovation, and the root of stranglehold problems lies in the weakness of basic research.

Before the symposium, Li joined several other state council leaders in visiting the 25th Anniversary Exhibition of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in the corridor leading to the First Meeting Room of the State Council.

On the symposium, 8 representatives of recipients of the Fund presented their proposals on improving the status of basic research, increasing support for young scientists, achieve breakthroughs in key technologies to solve stranglehold problems and establishing a rescue mechanism that tolerates innovation failures. Premier Li Keqiang had a deep exchange of views with scientists presenting the symposium and responded to their concerns.

Li said that scientists and researchers in basic research areas should think big and look to the future by focusing on key constraints of China’s innovation and development and work with down-to-earth attitude in basic research and applied basic research areas. Governments at all levels should increase their long-term and stable support for basic research and encourage enterprises to increase investment in basic research, and the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars should play a greater role in improving China’s basic research level and original innovation capacity, he also stressed.