On the afternoon of March 22, Guo Ziyi, member of the standing committee of the Guizhou Provincial People's Congress and full-time vice chairman of the Guizhou Provincial Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD), coupled with a group of associates, visited Guizhou University on matters related to research personnel. The meeting, presided over by GZU President Yang Song, was held and attended by key personnel from the CAPD Guizhou Provincial Committee and relevant colleges and departments from the university.

After explaining the purpose of visit, Guo Ziyi noted that President Xi Jinping recognized talented professionals as a primary resource for development, and talented people are the fundamental backbone for scientific and technological innovation in China. It is, thus, of vital importance to make it a priority to cultivate innovative talents and ultimately boost Guizhou’s economic advancement in the long run. With the aim of promoting the development of talent in Guizhou, as well as across the western region of China, Guo brought forward suggestions on a number of issues, including: (a) initiating training programs for research personnel; (b) enabling researchers to devote their full attention to research; (c) motivating researchers to participate in training programs; and (d) enhancing overall research capacity.   

Following Guo’s remarks, the participants from both parties shared their experience in attracting talent and exchanged in-depth views on important issues. The collaboration included topics about talent recruitment, training programs, award systems, benefit plans and policies, along with various services and management.  

Although having made great effort in promoting talent programs, Guizhou University still lacks the competitiveness to attract talented minds, said President Yang Song. Given this, he suggested the following: (a) the government should expand national-level programs in western regions in an effort to offer more attractive opportunities to researchers; (b) a series of further reforms should be made, with a focus on improvement of the scientific research system, thorough assessment and evaluation systems, better incentive mechanisms to attract talent, and further motivation for innovating; and (c) everyone involved should be well aware of the differences between basic and non-basic research, and always look at the bigger picture before adjusting any evaluation cycle, provide sustainable non-competitive funding, and ensure stable functioning mechanisms for their basic research.

Text: Ning Yumei (Xishan Integrated Media Center)

Photography: Zhang Guihuang (Intern, Xishan Integrated Media Center)

Editor: Zhang Chan

Chief Editor: Liang Yukun

Senior Editor: Wen Yang

Translator: Li Xiaorong

Proofreading: Mark Bynum, Zhou Jie