Deeply mourn Comrade Zhou Guangzhao | Relay the spiritual torch and forge ahead on a new Long March

Comrade Zhou Guangzhao, former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Honorary Chairman and former Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, and winner of the "Two Bombs and One Satellite Medal of Merit", died in Beijing on August 17, 2024 at the age of 95 due to illness. We mourn and remember Comrade Zhou Guangzhao deeply. Comrade Zhou Guangzhao was elected Chairman of the Fifth and Sixth National Committees of the China Association for Science and Technology in May 1996 and June 2001, respectively, and was awarded Honorary Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology in May 2006.

We specially publish the speech of Comrade Wan Gang, Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, at the 2019 "Symposium on Academic Thoughts and Scientific Spirit for the 65th Anniversary of Academician Zhou Guangzhao's Scientific Career" to commemorate Mr. Guangzhao.

Relay the spiritual torch and forge ahead on a new Long March

Congratulations to Comrade Zhou Guangzhao on his 65th anniversary of scientific career

In this beautiful season of flowers and plants, we are also celebrating the 90th birthday of Comrade Zhou Guangzhao, former chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, and his 65th anniversary in science. On behalf of the China Association for Science and Technology, I would like to express my highest respect and most sincere blessings to Comrade Guangzhao!

Comrade Zhou Guangzhao is a world-renowned scientific master who has made outstanding contributions to promoting the development of science and technology in New China and has effectively enhanced my country's influence and voice in the international scientific and technological community.

As early as the 1950s, while working at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in the Soviet Union, Comrade Guangzhao made outstanding contributions to particle physics research and became one of the world-recognized founders of the partial conservation theorem of pseudovector flow. After returning to China to work in the early 1960s, Comrade Guangzhao did a lot of important work in the research and design of my country's first atomic bomb, the first hydrogen bomb and strategic nuclear weapons, and made outstanding contributions to the development of my country's physics research and science and technology, especially the development of national defense science and technology. He is a well-deserved "two bomb hero". Comrade Guangzhao led and participated in research work in many fields such as explosion physics, radiation fluid mechanics, high temperature and high pressure physics, two-dimensional fluid mechanics, and neutron physics. We are deeply proud of his brilliant achievements in scientific research. He is a shining example and outstanding model for promoting the spirit of Chinese scientists.

Comrade Zhou Guangzhao was an outstanding leader in my country's scientific and technological work. He devoted his efforts and wisdom to promoting national scientific and technological management, and promoted the formation of a good atmosphere of democracy, unity, harmony and liveliness in the scientific and technological community.

Zhou Guangzhao

Comrade Guangzhao attaches great importance to basic research in my country. During the more than 10 years that he has served as the leader of the expert advisory group of the National Key Basic Research and Development Program ("973" Program), he has always used the broad vision and broad mind of a strategic scientist to keenly examine the development trends of world science and technology, deeply understand the laws of scientific and technological innovation, and put forward a series of visionary strategic judgments based on the long-term interests of the country.

At the beginning of this century, he repeatedly stressed that basic research should not only focus on the forefront of science and technology, but also solve key scientific problems in economic and social development. He believes that since the beginning of the new century, the cross-disciplinary integration has accelerated the process of basic research, applied research and technological innovation.

Under his advocacy, my country has successively launched six major scientific programs, including quantum science, nanoscience, proteins, stem cells and global change. It has taken the lead in trying a full-chain, multidisciplinary R&D deployment from basic research to technological innovation, and produced a series of scientific research results with international influence.

He conducted an in-depth study of the history of major scientific discoveries and gained profound insights, emphasizing that material conditions are only necessary conditions, not sufficient conditions, for the realization of major scientific discoveries and major scientific projects. Cultivating young talents, attracting outstanding talents, and selecting academic leaders are more critical. This judgment provides important support for my country to strengthen scientific and technological talent work and optimize the academic environment in the new century.

Comrade Guangzhao led the reform of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasizing "mobilizing and organizing the main scientific and technological forces to serve the national economy" and retaining a capable team to conduct basic research and high-tech innovation. Comrade Guangzhao actively promoted the establishment of several joint laboratories between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Peking University and Tsinghua University, and carried out creative work to fundamentally change the backward scientific research system that separated scientific research institutions from universities.

Comrade Zhou Guangzhao proposed the strategic idea of ​​"double drive", that is, basic research should rely on scientists' curiosity in exploring natural phenomena and laws, and should also be based on their sense of responsibility and mission to the country and the people to overcome scientific problems related to national security, economic and social development, and the latter is often more important. This view provides an ideological and theoretical basis for realizing a scientific research organization model that combines goal orientation with free exploration. Comrade Zhou Guangzhao has repeatedly stated on different occasions that major scientific plans involve a wide range of aspects and need to organize different disciplines and units to participate in the joint completion and organize into a fighting whole. We must give full play to the guiding role of the 973 plan, constantly emphasize to scientists the connection between basic research and national needs, and encourage them to solve the bottleneck problems of economic development in response to the major needs of society and industry.

Comrade Guangzhao also devoted his efforts to the design and implementation of major national science and technology projects. In 2006, the Party Central Committee and the State Council issued the "National Medium- and Long-Term Science and Technology Plan". At the beginning of the establishment of major national science and technology projects, he repeatedly emphasized that the biggest problem in the field of science and technology is the close integration of science and technology with the economy. He also made suggestions to the leaders of the State Council many times, which were highly valued by the leaders. Comrade Guangzhao believed that the organizational model of the "Two Bombs and One Satellite" project at that time was the most successful and should keep pace with the times and carry forward. He suggested that a new national system under the conditions of a market economy should be established under the new situation to gather and give play to the forces of all parties and support and lead economic construction with scientific and technological innovation. Under his guidance, major science and technology projects insisted on independent innovation, continuously improved organizational mechanisms, promoted collaborative innovation among various innovation subjects, and completed a number of major strategic products, key common technologies and major projects in areas that are strategically important and urgently needed by the country.

Comrade Guangzhao has countless profound insights and wise judgments on scientific and technological plans and major scientific and technological projects. These academic thoughts and scientific spirit not only provided rich theories and methods for the prosperity and development of basic science in my country, but also strongly promoted the reform of the science and technology system and the development of science and technology. Scientific and technological innovation has played a supporting and leading role in economic and social development.

At the beginning of implementing the medium- and long-term science and technology plan and launching major science and technology projects, I visited Comrade Guangzhao for advice many times due to work reasons. Comrade Guangzhao always responded to my requests and taught me tirelessly, which benefited me a lot and will be unforgettable for my whole life.

Comrade Zhou Guangzhao is an outstanding social activist in contemporary China. He has promoted the formation of a multi-level and three-dimensional academic exchange pattern, and put the construction of citizens' scientific literacy on a standardized and legalized track.

Comrade Guangzhao served as the chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology for two consecutive terms . He adhered to the correct political direction, firmly grasped the overall development of the Association, directly led the establishment of the China Association for Science and Technology's academic annual meeting system, carefully guided the creation of academic exchange brands with extensive influence such as the Youth Academic Annual Meeting and the Young Scientists Forum, promoted talents and encouraged students through awards such as the China Youth Science and Technology Award, the China Association for Science and Technology Qiushi Outstanding Youth Award, and the National Outstanding Science and Technology Worker Award, recommended and commended a large number of scientific and technological innovation talents, promoted the formulation and implementation of the world's first "Science Popularization Law", established the "National Science Popularization Day", and was willing to be the "leader" and "pioneer" of science popularization work. Comrade Guangzhao has deep feelings for scientific and technological workers and has repeatedly emphasized that scientific and technological workers are the foundation for the existence and development of the Association for Science and Technology. Close contact and full reliance on the vast number of scientific and technological workers are the source of strength and greatest advantage of the Association for Science and Technology, and serving scientific and technological workers wholeheartedly is the lifeline of the Association for Science and Technology's work. Only when scientific and technological workers truly regard the Association for Science and Technology as their own home and have a place for the Association for Science and Technology in their hearts can the Association for Science and Technology have a solid position in society. It has been repeatedly emphasized that the Science and Technology Association should do more to provide timely assistance and less to add icing on the cake, and actively promote the resolution of practical difficulties encountered by scientific and technological workers in their study, work and life.

Under the leadership of Comrade Guangzhao, the China Association for Science and Technology has conscientiously implemented the Party and the State's intellectual policy, actively reflected the demands of scientific and technological workers by establishing and improving the system for investigating the status of scientific and technological workers, vigorously publicized, commended and recommended outstanding scientific and technological talents, safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of scientific and technological workers, and continuously enhanced the appeal and cohesion of the Association for Science and Technology to the vast number of scientific and technological workers. In this process, Comrade Guangzhao is both our leader and our friend. He has helped us to grow and progress in our thinking and work, and actively helped to solve the difficulties and problems encountered in our work and life. He has forged a deep friendship with the cadres and staff of the Association for Science and Technology and is deeply respected and loved by the vast number of cadres and staff of the Association for Science and Technology.

After the successful explosions of the first atomic bomb and the first hydrogen bomb of New China, some people praised him for his important contributions. Comrade Guangzhao replied: " The cause of science is a collective cause. Making an atomic bomb is like writing a thrilling article. This article was written by no less than 100,000 workers, PLA soldiers, engineers and scientific and technical personnel! I am only one in a hundred thousand ." Comrade Guangzhao's noble character and personal charm, as well as the scientific thinking and scientific spirit formed in the long-term practice of scientific and technological innovation, are like an eternal spiritual torch, illuminating the era of patriotic struggle, innovation and achievement for generations of scientific and technological workers.

The scientific undertakings pioneered by the older generation of scientists represented by Comrade Guangzhao are now flourishing and growing, and the new generation of Chinese scientific and technological workers are showing their bravery in the journey towards becoming a powerful country in science and technology. Today, we learn from Comrade Zhou Guangzhao's academic thoughts and scientific spirit to relay the spiritual torch and forge ahead on a new Long March, carry forward the patriotic spirit of caring for the motherland and serving the people, the innovative spirit of climbing to the top and daring to be the first, the realistic spirit of pursuing truth and rigorous scholarship, the dedication spirit of being indifferent to fame and fortune and concentrating on research, the collaborative spirit of pooling wisdom to tackle key problems and working in unity and cooperation, and the educational spirit of being willing to be a stepping stone and encouraging future generations, so as to gather strong spiritual power for building a world power in science and technology, closely unite around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, and make new contributions to the realization of the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!

Planning and production

Source: Voice of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST_1958), originally published in Guangming Daily (16th edition, July 11, 2019)