At a pivotal moment when the entire district is intensively studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the important remarks made by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his inspection tour of Jiangsu, fully rolling out the “532” development strategy, and vigorously advancing the construction of the “Four Major Functional Zones,” the Fifth Congress of the Zhonglou District Science and Technology Association officially opened on September 25.

Shen Dong, Secretary of the District Party Committee, and Ren Hongxing, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of the Municipal Science and Technology Association, attended the conference and delivered speeches. District leaders Li Chaokun, Tang Jianjun, Feng Sujun, Tang Jie, and Wu Wei also attended the meeting.

At this conference, the members of the Fifth Committee of the Zhonglou District Science and Technology Association, along with its president and vice-presidents, were elected. Yang Wei was elected president, while Zhu Liya, Guo Xinghua, Meng Xiaodong, Zhao Dan, Zhou Yuan, and Li Xiaoyan were elected vice-presidents.

Shen Dong extended warm congratulations on the convening of the conference and conveyed cordial greetings to the vast community of science and technology workers throughout the district.

Shen Dong emphasized We must remain steadfast in our ideals and convictions, and stay on the right course by strengthening political guidance. We must highlight political leadership, continuously strengthen our confidence and resolve in building a world-class science and technology power under the Party’s leadership, and steadfastly uphold our original aspiration and mission to serve the country through science and technology. We should bear in mind the nation’s paramount interests, remain focused on the major needs of the Party and the country, and on the main frontlines of economic development, ensuring that all central, provincial, and municipal directives on scientific and technological innovation and science communication take root and flourish in Zhonglou District. We must embrace the spirit of science, maintain a deep passion for the cause of science, and persist in the pursuit of scientific truth; we should inherit and carry forward the fine traditions of the older generation of scientists, and lead by example to inspire and mobilize the entire society.

We must shoulder our mission and responsibilities, demonstrating commitment by serving the broader national and regional agenda. The District Science and Technology Association and the wider community of science and technology professionals should boldly take on heavy responsibilities and make substantial contributions to industrial upgrading, focusing on strategic sectors such as core components for new‑energy vehicles, advanced materials, and intelligent equipment manufacturing, thereby helping to nurture technology‑driven small and medium‑sized enterprises. We will continue to deepen strategic cooperation with leading research institutes and universities, implement the “listing‑and‑headhunting” mechanism for tackling key technological challenges, and steadily advance the seamless integration of science and technology with industry. In driving innovation, we must lead the way and showcase our capabilities, vigorously promoting alignment across industries, technologies, talent pools, and projects. We will strive to establish a number of provincial‑level and above key laboratories and enterprise technology centers, generating more original breakthroughs that are domestically leading and internationally first‑class. In the realm of science communication, we must act proactively and set an exemplary standard, going deep into the front lines of production and daily life to disseminate scientific knowledge, uphold the spirit of science, spread scientific thinking, and advocate scientific methods. Through these efforts, we will foster throughout the Zhonglou district a positive culture of valuing, loving, learning, and applying science.

We must strengthen organizational leadership and pool collective efforts by fostering a robust atmosphere. All levels and departments should further enhance and improve the Party’s leadership over the work of the science and technology associations, providing greater support and creating more favorable conditions. Science and technology associations should elevate their service capabilities, leveraging their broad networks, abundant talent, and concentrated intellectual resources to mobilize the region’s vast community of scientific and technological professionals to fully unleash their wisdom and strength. Meanwhile, the broader community of scientists and engineers should actively serve as think tanks, offering more professional, constructive, and practically feasible advice and recommendations, thereby better fulfilling the role of science and technology think tanks in informing decision-making, driving development, and serving society.