The conferences are held in the Great Hall of the People on May 30. Photo by Xinhua

Source: cas.cn

The Great Hall of the People in Beijing was the site of four important conferences, on the morning of May 30 -- the National Scientific and Technological Innovation Conference, the 18th Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Member Conference, the 13th Chinese Academy of Engineering Academic Conference, and the 9th China Association for Science and Technology National Congress -- with Chinese President Xi Jinping taking part and addressing the gathering by saying that the objective of China’s scientific and technological efforts is to join the innovative countries of the world by 2020, to be among the top ranking innovative countries by 2030, and, to be a scientific and technological power in the world by the 100th anniversary of the New China.

Xi, who is also president of Central Military Commission (CMC), emphasized science and technology as the way to make the country more prosperous and said,"Today, we are gathered here for this grand conference so that scientific and technological innovation can occupy a more important position and sound the horn of scientific and technological prowess in the world from a new historical development point."

Taking part in the conference were some 600 CAS members and foreign academics, representatives of central and national governments, CMC dept’s, the armed police, and others, for around 4,000 people in all.