President Xi Jinping presented the nation's top science award to aircraft designer Gu Songfen and leading nuclear scientist Wang Dazhong on Wednesday in recognition of their outstanding contributions to scientific and technological innovation.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conferred the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award on the two academicians during a grand ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The two scientists then joined Party and State leaders in presenting certificates to the recipients of State awards in natural science, technological invention, scientific and technological progress and international science and technology cooperation.

Among the honorees were epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan and his team, who were commended for tackling difficult respiratory ailments including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), COVID-19, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Premier Li Keqiang said in a speech at the ceremony that innovation in science and technology has been a pillar of the nation's pandemic response and economic recovery.

He highlighted the need to seize historic opportunities from the new scientific and technological revolution and industrial revolution, improve China's innovation capacity across the board, spur the potential for social creativity and strive to attain a high level of technological self-reliance.

It is important to expedite steps to attain breakthroughs in core technologies, bolster the capacity for independent innovation and enable better allocation of resources in science and technology and sharing of resources, he said.

From China Daily