The 2009 National Seminar on Local Basic Research was held in Xiamen on November 5. Vice Minister of MOST CAO Jianlin and Vice Governor of Fujian Province Li Chuan attended the seminar. Over 130 representatives from MOST Department of Basic Research, and relevant provincial and municipal S&T bureaus and commissions also participated in the event.

With the theme of “strengthening basic research and promoting innovation”, the seminar reviewed the development of basic research in recent years in China, examined the strategic priority issues in the S&T field during the Twelfth Five-Year period, and summarized the preparatory work of 973 Program and the building of joint MOST-Province laboratory during the past 3 years. Participants also proposed their own suggestions in this regard.