Vice-minister of science and technology stresses innovation to prevent risks

Zhang Yudong, vice-minister of science and technology, conducted an inspection trip to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) on May 5.

 

After visiting the biosafety P3 laboratory at the Institute of Viral Diseases, the gene sequencing laboratory at the Influenza Center, and the laboratory of pathogenic bacteria identification network of the Division of Infectious Diseases, he held discussions with academicians and experts at a meeting chaired by Shi Xiaoming, deputy director-general of the China CDC.

 

During the meeting, Zhang fully recognized the contributions made by the China CDC in preventing and controlling COVID-19, emphasizing that China has attached great importance to the role of scientific and technological innovation in the fight against the virus.

 

He said that the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) will work with the China CDC to learn from the successes in preventing and controlling the pandemic through science and technology.

 

Focusing on global health and national security, Zhang said the two sides will launch more research projects and strengthen the development of national key laboratories, in a bid to cultivate more talents and build a national disease control and public health scientific research system. 

 

Shen Hongbing, director-general of the China CDC, briefed about the center's progress on scientific and technological work, and shared his thoughts on the supporting role of research in building a major epidemic prevention and control system. 

 

Yin Zundong, head of the Center for Immunization Planning of the China CDC, gave a report on how to better strengthen national clinical trial research. 

 

Attendants of the meeting also put forward suggestions on the prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases, the improvement of monitoring and early warning capabilities, the construction and layout of laboratory platforms, the research and development of vaccines and drugs, and the disease control system.

 

More than 40 leaders and experts from the MOST, the China National Center for Biotechnology Development, the China Academy of Science and Technology for Development, the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, and the China CDC participated in the inspection trip and attended the meeting.

Zhang Yudong, vice-minister of science and technology, delivers a speech. [Photo/chinacdc.cn]

Shen Hongbing, director-general of the China CDC, delivers a speech. [Photo/chinacdc.cn]