Published : 2025-03-18

From March 18 to 31, 1978, the National Science Conference was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

5,586 representatives from across the country attended the conference, the oldest being 90 years old and the youngest just 22.

Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平), who had resumed a leadership position in the state, also delivered an important speech at the conference. He clearly pointed out that "the key to modernisation is the modernisation of science and technology", "intellectuals are part of the working class", and reiterated that "science and technology are productive forces".

During the Cultural Revolution, the field of science and technology was one of the "disaster areas", with a large number of scientists being persecuted and most scientific research coming to a halt.

After the "Gang of Four" was crushed, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) set the goal of achieving the "Four Modernisations" by the end of the 20th century as goal for the entire nation to strive for.

After the national conferences on "Learning agriculture from Dazhai" and "Learning industry from Daqing" , the nationwide science and technology conference was also being planned.

In July 1977, Deng Xiaoping resumed his post and volunteered to oversee science and education work.

By August 1977, the report of the 11th National Congress of the CPC formally announced that the National Science Conference would be held at an appropriate time.

On September 18 of the same year, the Politburo meeting reviewed and approved the "Notice on Convening the National Science Conference".