In order to deeply carry out the spirit of the 6th plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, further leverage the human resources of BAST, unite and mobilize all BAST entities and science and technology workers to get involved in rural revitalization and actively serve the implementation of Beijing’s rural revitalization strategy, on the morning of December 16, BAST held a meeting on technologically empowering rural revitalization at Beijing Science Center, which was attended by Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group of BAST Shen Jie, among others. 

At the meeting, the Department for Societies Affairs of BAST introduced main contents of BAST’s plan to facilitate rural revitalization. Participating experts engaged in deep discussions around how to technologically empower rural revitalization and Beijing’s efforts to  first substantially realize rural and agricultural modernization. 

Participating experts fully recognized the work plan tabled by BAST for technologically empowering rural revitalization, while raising suggestions on how departments interact to advance the efforts: first, BAST, Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission and Administrative Commission of Zhonguancun Science Park and Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs jointly issue documents to advance this effort; second, further integrate contents of the S&T combo program, S&T courtyard and S&T special commissioners program to form synergistic effects; third, define the expected objectives of technologically empowering rural revitalization, and conduct pilot programs well; fourth, increase the contents for carbon emission reduction in rural areas, low-carbon lifestyle, digitally empowering smart farms, green entrepreneurship and creative farming; fifth, further leverage the role of mainstream S&T media and personal media of S&T to help raise science literacy of the general public. 

Shen Jie pointed out the need to deeply understand the urban conditions of Beijing (i.e., big city, small farming sector”, and “large suburban areas and small downtown areas”), and work hard to empower rural revitalization through science and technology by targeting the issues of unbalanced urban-rural development and underdevelopment of rural areas. The rural revitalization effort involves many fields and a large number of operating departments, so BAST will make full use of its organizational and resource advantages, actively reach out to the primary-level organizations and assist government departments in advancing the rural revitalization strategy. 

Shen Jie emphasized that BAST should follow “three principles” in order to do a good job of rural revitalization: first, be down to earth and sustainable. Set good examples and achieve sustainable development with duplicable work mechanisms. Second, make resources, activities, personnel and funding available to farmers and primary-level organizations to meet actual needs of primary-level organizations and benefit farmers; third, work as a team instead of alone. Pool all resources available to BAST to provide S&T services, achievements transformation and decision consulting and create synergy by integrating rural revitalization with S&T, culture, tourism, education and health. 

Shen Jie noted that the next step of the rural revitalization effort should focus on the following three aspects: i.e., focus on priorities, constantly communicate with related agencies and bureaus to understand conditions of demonstrative areas, innovation areas and demonstrative villages and incline BAST’s resources towards those willing, ready and able to develop; focus on difficulties by serving industries and talented people, sorting out issues and identifying prioritized industries; focus on weak spots to deeply understand villages with weak collective economy and industrial vulnerabilities as well as actual needs. Properly connect with CAST and related municipal commissions, offices and bureaus in terms of policy to pool resources on the basis of existing policies; connect with district branches of BAST, societies and universities in terms of work to carry out work each is capable to shoulder; connect with primary-level organizations in terms of needs and requirements to make available resources to them. 

Member of Leading Party Members’ Group and Vice President of BAST Meng Fanxing chaired the meeting, which was attended by director of primary-level work section of the Department for Science Popularization of CAST Huang Xiaochun, secretary of Party committee of School of Architecture of Tsinghua University Zhang Yue, Vice President of Institute for Culture Creativity of Tsinghua University Zhang Zheng, Secretary General of Cultural and Creative Committee of Alumni Association of Tsinghua University and President of Fuliang Township Innovation College Yin Zhisong, class-2 researcher of the science and technology section of Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Wang Dongchun, head of comprehensive survey and research office and research fellow of Beijing Municipal Research Center for Rural Economy Zhang Yinghong, head of achievement transformation and promotion section of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences Qin Xiangyang, class-4 researcher of the social development science and technology section of Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission and Administrative Commission of Zhonguancun Science Park Wang Fei, ,secretary of Leading Party Members’ Group and President of Pinggu District Association for Science and Technology Chen Xinhua, ,secretary of Leading Party Members’ Group and Vice President of Tongzhou District Association for Science and Technology Wu Xiaomo, Secretary General of Dragon Design Foundation Zhang Qi, Secretary General of Soil Science Society of Beijing Liu Baocun, and related officers of the department for societies affairs, department for science and technology popularization, department for research and publicity of BAST and Beijing Service Center for Science and Technology Societies participated in the meeting.