French Professor Pierre Agostini, 2023 winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, first came to China about forty years ago, invited by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). What he saw back then was a scientific community rebuilding itself, with modest facilities and limited international connections. Today, revisiting labs at Nankai University, Peking University and ShanghaiTech University, what he sees is vastly different, a transition in the making: cutting-edge infrastructure, vibrant research, and a deep commitment to discovery.

"My recent visits have shown me the incredible advancement of Chinese research compared to my first visit to the Institutes of Optics in Xi'an and Shanghai as a guest of CAS decades ago. It makes me regret not having been more involved with the Chinese scientific community over those years," he said.

That regret speaks volumes not just of personal reflection, but of a broader shift. China has stepped onto the global stage not only as a manufacturing power, but as a rising center for sci-tech innovation. This is evident from the investment in basic research to the rise of world-class laboratories; the foundation is being laid for long-term breakthroughs.

Foundations of excellence

At the heart of this scientific growth lies a renewed emphasis on basic science, a domain where curiosity meets national purpose. Russian-American Professor Efim Zelmanov, Fields medalist and distinguished mathematician, has been living and working in China for over three and a half years and likes what he sees. "I'm very impressed by the support that mathematics and other sciences receive from society as a whole and from all levels of government. The support is amazing," he said.

Zelmanov, who solved a century-old problem in symmetry to win the most prestigious award in mathematics, sees China's progress as undeniable. What strikes him most is not just funding, but cultural depth. "China has a respect for education that goes back thousands of years." This enduring value system, now aligned with modern scientific ambition, has created fertile ground for intellectual growth. A decade ago, top Chinese students often pursued graduate studies abroad. But times have changed. "Top Chinese universities are very strong. And more and more young international talent is coming to China for postdoctoral training. Now that's normal,"Zelmanov said.

This ecosystem thrives on institutional inclusivity. Dr. Md Altab Hossin, a Bangladeshi expert at the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Chengdu University, noted that China grants foreign researchers "equal and stable access to research funds,"enabling true integration into the national scientific fabric. "By fostering both fundamental research and its application,"Hossin said, "China positions scientists here at the forefront of global progress. I am proud to be part of this journey."

The spirit behind China's sci-tech rise

For international experts like Francesco Faiola, an Italian scientist at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of CAS, China's scientific transformation is rooted in three core strengths: a clear mission, seamless synergy, and unwavering perseverance. To him, these are not just strategies, but the very essence of China's rise.

In China, research often addresses real-world problems, such as overcoming bottlenecks in specific fields, advancing green energy development or improving public health. Faiola describes this approach as a "tangible act of building the future." He attributes China's success to a synergistic system that connects universities, institutes, industry, and local governments into what he describes as a "well-trained scientific symphony orchestra."

Hossin shares this sentiment, applauding China's "mission-oriented" vision of the future. It is a vision that leverages regional innovation clusters to tackle global challenges like climate change.

Perseverance is equally important, said Hossin. China is increasingly willing to invest in fundamental science even when outcomes remain uncertain.

Projects like the FAST radio telescope, decades in the making, show a patience observers call "a decade-long sharpening of a single sword." Evaluation systems are shifting to reward long-term persistence rather than just quick publications, creating opportunities for high-risk, high-reward work.

"Genuine original innovation cannot be scheduled," Faiola said. He believes that this strategic patience, combined with a clear vision, will elevate China from a major scientific player to a global powerhouse, offering genuine solutions to shared human challenges.