Young Scholars from China Shines on the World Stage

Last month, Wang Hong and Deng Yu became the first Chinese mathematicians to win the Fields Medal, and their stories have inspired people across China. During a press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a spokesperson responded to a related question, saying: "This is not only the result of individual hard work, but also a vivid reflection of the vibrant spirit of today's Chinese youth, embodying the confidence and courage to forge ahead and give their all."

China's youth-driven innovation has already shown many results, spanning basic science, hard-tech entrepreneurship and global scientific collaboration.

On the day that Wang Hong and Deng Yu received their awards, Wang Xingxing, a young entrepreneur in China's robotics field, appeared on the cover of Time magazine alongside his manned exoskeleton.

Yang Zhilin's Moonshot AI, which created Kimi K3, took the world by storm.

Professor Shing-Tung Yau, a Fields Medalist, echoed this sentiment, remarking that China has become a fertile ground for basic research.

Undoubtedly, China's high-quality basic and undergraduate education has laid a solid foundation for academic journeys, serving as a compelling testament to the world-class system for cultivating top-tier research talent.

In the past, the "Qian Xuesen Question"— which queried why China's schools failed to produce outstanding scientific and tech talent — provoked deep national reflection. Today, the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent is providing the solution, accelerating synergy between independent technological innovation and homegrown talent cultivation.

Du Mengran, a 39-year-old ocean researcher at the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has devoted 12 years to her field. Nature named her a "Deep Diver" and one of the 10 people who shaped science in 2025, alongside Liang Wenfeng, the founder of the DeepSeek AI model. In June 2025, the UN endorsed the Global Trench Exploration and Diving program proposed by her institute, in collaboration with partners from more than 10 countries. Du is the Chinese chief scientist of the expedition.

These achievements are largely attributed to China's concerted efforts to enhance its independent innovation capabilities, tackle cutting-edge fundamental scientific questions, and lay a solid foundation for basic research. This is the way to break free from the path of dependence and secure first-mover advantage in technological competition.

Scientific progress thrives on open cooperation and inclusive exchange. In this era of "big science" marked by accelerating transformation, it is precisely the deepening scientific exchanges and collaborations between China and the rest of the world that provide young scientists with richer opportunities, cutting-edge perspectives, and a broader stage.

Today, China has become a vibrant hub for strengthening basic research and accelerating scientific and technological innovation. With a growing number of outstanding overseas students returning to pursue their careers and an increasing influx of foreign scientists arriving for exchanges and collaboration, it is rapidly transforming from a global participant and contributor to science and technology into a pioneer and leader.

Source: Science and Technology Daily