On March 24, CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences) President Lu Yongxiang, who is also vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the country's top legislature NPC, held talks with a visiting Nobel Committee delegation headed by Anders Flodstrom, president of the Royal Technological Institute of Sweden.

Lu spoke highly of the important role played by the Nobel prizes in promoting Science & Technology development. He said that the prizes signify the full recognition of the scholarship and innovation capacity of the Nobel laureates. He was quick to point out that the departure point of scientific studies should be curiosity and research interest. As long as keeping on in-depth exploration, chances of winning the prize will naturally improve.

Anders Flodstrom agreed with Lu, saying the major purpose of his trip to China is not to publicize the Nobel prizes, but to witness the tremendous changes that have taken place in China in recent years. Many high-level officials in China's science and education administration have good education background and scholarship, he stressed, and many young scholars and students are playing a leading role in promoting China's S&T innovation in various fields. He believed that all these could accelerate China's further development in various fields. He suggested that China's young people should not only do a good job in implementing practical research, but should be good at thinking.

During the talk, Lu also briefed the visitors on the development of CAS, and recalled the cooperation between CAS and Royal Technological Institute of Sweden and Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences over the past years. He said he was deeply impressed by the importance attached by the Swedish government to S&T development and on the establishment of a national innovation system with its own characteristics during his last year's visit to Sweden.

The two sides both expressed hopes to further S&T cooperation and put forth tentative ideas for collaboration in such key fields of energy sources, nanoscience, and information technology.