Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao delivers a speech at the closing session of the ninth national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology in Beijing, capital of China, June 2, 2016. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) chose a new leadership team at its 9th national congress, which concluded on Thursday.
Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang was elected chair of the national CAST committee along with 18 vice chairs.
Han Qide, former chair of the 8th national CAST committee, was named honorary CAST chairman.
Founded in 1958, the CAST is a national association of science, technology and engineering workers. It has member societies and local branches throughout the country.
At Thursday's closing meeting, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao urged the organization to unite to make China a world leader in science and technology, as directed by President Xi Jinping at the opening of the congress on Monday.
Also on Thursday, at the 2016 annual meeting of the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, China, represented by the CAST, became the 18th full member of the Washington Accord.
The Washington Accord recognizes the substantial equivalency of engineering degree programs accredited by its member bodies and is important to Chinese engineers in coping with international competition.
