The 2026 International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS 2026) opened in Huairou District on the morning of August 9. Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, attended the event.
In his remarks, Yin Li welcomed participating scientists, experts and academics from China and abroad. He noted that global scientific and technological innovation is entering a period of intense activity. Paradigms for basic research are undergoing profound shifts; interdisciplinary integration and cross-sector collaborative innovation are advancing at a faster pace; and continuous breakthroughs are being made in frontier fields. President Xi Jinping has pointed out that humanity needs international cooperation, openness and sharing more than ever in order to address common development challenges. Beijing is a vibrant international metropolis where tradition meets modernity, with favorable conditions for scientific and technological innovation and talent development. The city is home to 92 universities and more than 1,000 research institutes. Beijing-based members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering account for about half of the national total. Beijing ranks among the world’s leading cities in the number of Highly Cited Researchers. In recent years, Beijing’s R&D intensity has remained above 6%, with around 16% of total R&D expenditure going to basic research, providing favorable conditions for the development of basic science. Beijing hosts 55 international scientific and technological organizations, and a number of research platforms open to the global scientific community including the Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility. An increasing number of Chinese and international researchers are coming to Beijing to work and live.
Yin Li noted that, at present and in the period ahead, Beijing is committed to accelerating its efforts to become an international innovation center and a reservoir of best minds. Beijing is ready to work with all parties to advance human progress, identify major scientific questions, drive breakthroughs in frontier theories, and produce more original research findings, so that scientific progress can better benefit people across the globe. We will foster a world-class research ecosystem, create an open and inclusive academic environment that encourages exploration, and improve policies aligned with the long cycle of basic research. We will also build systematic platforms for talent development, and create a favorable environment for innovation in basic science. Beijing will promote openness and sharing, deepen international exchanges and cooperation, and conduct joint research on global issues such as climate change, energy and the environment. The city will also join the efforts to implement major science projects and improve the international governance system for science and technology, for greater scientific and technological progress in the world.
At the opening ceremony, Zhang Guangjun, Vice Minister of Science and Technology; Feng Shenhong, Vice President of the China Association for Science and Technology; Li Luming, President of Tsinghua University; Xiaowei Zhuang, representative of women scientists; and Shing-Tung Yau, President of the International Congress of Basic Science, delivered remarks.
The congress, themed “Advancing Science for Humanity,” aims to promote international exchanges and cooperation in basic science, advance scientific progress, and benefit humanity. Leading scientists from around the world, including recipients of the Fields Medal, the Turing Award and other prestigious international honors, as well as experts and scholars from China and abroad, have gathered by the Yanqi Lake. They will engage in academic discussions and exchanges focusing on basic science, covering fields including mathematics, physics, information science and engineering. The ICBS Medal and the Frontiers of Science Award were also presented at the ceremony.
Prior to the opening ceremony, Yin Li met with representatives of the participating scientists.
Leaders of relevant central government departments, Beijing municipal leaders, officials from relevant municipal departments and districts, as well as Chinese and international scientists, experts and academics in related fields and university students attended the event.
