A Letter of Support from the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for Hong Kong’s Bid to Host the International Congress of Mathematicians 2030

To the International Mathematical Union and the global mathematical community,

On behalf of the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science (AMSS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, we take great honour and pleasure in expressing our strongest endorsement for Hong Kong’s bid to host the International Congress of Mathematicians in 2030 (ICM 2030).

Since its inception in 1897, the ICM has stood as the most prestigious and influential gathering in the mathematical world — a quadrennial celebration that brings together the world’s brightest minds to share groundbreaking discoveries, foster new collaborations, and honour excellence through the awarding of the Fields Medal, the Chern Medal, and other highest distinctions in mathematics. Hosting the ICM represents a profound recognition of a nation’s mathematical vitality and its commitment to advancing the frontiers of human knowledge.

China is fully prepared to embrace this responsibility once again. In 2002, Beijing successfully hosted the 24th ICM, welcoming more than 3,500 mathematicians from over 100 countries and regions. At that time, Chinese mathematics was still striving to reach world-leading levels, and the Congress served as a vital bridge connecting Chinese scholars with the global community. Today, the landscape has been profoundly transformed after more than two decades of tremendous efforts by the Chinese mathematics community. China is now home to numerous high-level mathematics departments and research institutes, as well as a great many distinguished mathematicians and exceptionally gifted students. This remarkable progress also owes much to the generous support of mathematical communities around the world, for which we remain deeply grateful. Now we have reached a pivotal moment — an opportunity for China to demonstrate the dramatic progress we have made, and to undertake the responsibility of hosting this great gathering in celebration of the global mathematical community’s achievements.

At the forefront of this enormous development, AMSS brings together four world-class research institutes: the Institute of Mathematics, the Institute of Applied Mathematics, the Institute of Systems Science, and the Institute of Computational Mathematics and Scientific/Engineering Computing, and serves as a flagship institution in advancing China’s aspiration to become a global centre of excellence and a leading force in mathematical research. Our mission is to produce original, groundbreaking, and transformative achievements, to nurture internationally influential talent, and to engage with the world’s most pressing scientific challenges.

Consistent with our mission, AMSS is fully committed to the success of China's bid to host the ICM 2030. Several of our leading faculty members have joined the Bid and Academic Committee, including Academician Lei Guo, Academician Nanhua Xi, Academician Ye Tian, among others. Their active participation and dedicated efforts reflect the Academy’s wholehearted commitment to this national endeavour.

The vision for ICM 2030 extends far beyond a single conference. Hosting the Congress in 2030 will inspire a new generation of young researchers in China and around the world to aim higher, think more boldly, and push the boundaries of mathematical discovery. It will further deepen China’s integration into the global network of scientific cooperation, accelerate the emergence of world-leading mathematicians, and contribute to building a global mathematical community with a shared future.

The choice of Hong Kong as the proposed host city brings exceptional advantages. With its unique fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, highly open academic environment, extensive international flight connectivity, and the widespread use of English, Hong Kong is excellently equipped to welcome mathematicians from every corner of the globe. Moreover, China is no stranger to hosting large-scale international events. The success of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which inspired countless young people to pursue sport, offers a powerful parallel: ICM 2030 can ignite a similar passion for mathematics and basic sciences among younger generations in China and worldwide.

We invite every member of the International Mathematical Union to consider the tremendous opportunities that ICM 2030 in Hong Kong would create for mathematical research, education, international collaboration, and the future of our discipline. The Chinese mathematical community stands united in support of this bid, and the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science proudly adds its voice to this chorus of endorsement.

Let us write the next chapter of mathematical history together — in Hong Kong, 2030.

Sincerely,

Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science,
Chinese Academy of Sciences