"To me, scientific research is as important as breathing, and it equals my life," said Nobel laureate Tsung Dao Lee in Beijing on October 8 in an exclusive interview.

Lee, a world-renowned Chinese-American physicist, was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 1957 jointly with Chen Ning Yang, for their penetrating analysis of the law of parity conservation, an analysis that led to a series of significant discoveries on particle physics.

"The Nobel Prize is an honor given to science, and scientists should not do research just in pursuit of the prize," said the 74-year-old Columbia University professor.

"So long as they focus their attention on the kernel of natural sciences, Chinese scientists will be bound to make significant new achievements to mankind," he said.

At the China Industrial Hi-tech Forum which started on Sunday, Lee delivered an academic lecture, which discussed topics ranging from physics studies in ancient China to the latest achievements of modern physics research.

Lee stressed the importance of basic research in sciences. By comparing the basic research, applied technologies and industrialization to water, fish and fish market, he illustrated the relations between the three aspects.

It is the theory of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, the two fundamental theories formed at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, that spurred the development of a series of applied scientific theories and technologies, such as nuclear energy, laser, semi-conductor, electron and X-ray, Lee pointed out, adding that nearly all the significant achievements in natural science studies of the 20th century and technological advancement of modern society can find their origin in them.

But the basic research still leaves much room for original innovation, Lee said, expressing the belief that China's excellent young scholars will exert their capabilities in this respect.

Lee pointed out "the scientific spirit" is of profound importance to scientists, that is, the spirit of ceaseless quest for truth.

A good scientist should be able to detect where innovation could be made, and set a specific goal, Lee said.

With the help of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, he founded the China Center of Advanced Science and Technology World Laboratory in 1989. Since then, he has come to China every year to host activities of international academic exchanges.

Talking about education, Lee said students should learn to ask questions, not just score high marks in examinations, and children should gain knowledge through playing games.

"This is exactly what Chinese students need most," Lee said.

Lee expressed the confidence that in ten years, scientists leading the world's scientific research will appear in China.

"The Chinese people, with their wisdom, will make new contributions to the world's civilization," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency 10/09/2001)