A recent photo of Wu Weihua. [Photo by Yang Bo/China News Service]

Scientific and technological innovation is an important engine for social development and an important force for the progress of a country and a nation. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping stated that, "Never before have we seen science and technology exercise such a profound influence on the future of our country and the lives of our people." Keeping innovation at the core in China's overall modernization drive and making building up our country's strength in science and technology the strategic support for national development is a major strategic decision made by the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core based on the present and with a long-term perspective to coordinate the overall strategy for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and cope with the profound changes unseen in the world in a century.

The Jiusan Society is a socialist party with Chinese characteristics, which is mainly composed of senior- and middle- level intellectuals in the science and technology sector. It is an important responsibility of the Jiusan Society to, based on its advantage of having a concentration of talents in science and technology, make suggestions and proposals concerning accelerating the building of China into a leader in science and technology and ensuring the country becomes self-reliant in high technology. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, generations of members of the Jiusan Society have been upholding the fine traditions of patriotism, democracy and science and staying devoted to serving the country with science and technology. From "marching toward science" to practicing the principle that "science and technology constitute a primary productive force," from the implementation of the strategy of reinvigorating the country through science and education to building a country of innovators, and from the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy to the building of a world leader in science and technology, we have all devoted ourselves to the process with enthusiasm and dedicatedly contributed our wisdom and strength to the innovation-driven development of the country.