Chinese Academy of Sciences（CAS）President Bai Chunli was re-elected as The World Academy of Sciences（TWAS）President for a second term at the 26^th TWAS General Meeting. His term will last from 2016 to 2018.

Bai took office as TWAS President in January 2013. He is the first Chinese scientist to assume the post since the founding of TWAS.

In his address to the meeting, Bai said TWAS has always played an active role in promoting South-South collaboration in science and technology. In recent years, it has also been trying to promote South-North cooperation and exchanges.

The meeting opened in Vienna, Austria on November 18. It was the first time that it had been hosted by a developed country outside Italy.

Austrian President Heinz Fischer and Reinhold Mitterlehner, Austria’s Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Science, Research and Economy, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

More than 300 scientists from over 60 countries and regions, together with science and technology ministers or their representatives from 10-plus countries, as well as representatives of international organizations, discussed how science and technology can help the world pursue a sustainable future.

The winners of the TWAS Prizes for 2015 were announced, and 44 new fellows, including ten women, were elected, bringing total TWAS membership to 1,178.

TWAS was founded in Trieste, Italy in November 1983. As a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit international science academy, it works to “advance science and engineering for sustainable prosperity in the developing world”.

TWAS President Bai Chunli addresses the opening ceremony of the 26th TWAS General Meeting in Vienna, Austria.