The winners of the Fields Medal -- considered the most distinguished international award in mathematics -- are French mathematician Laurent Lafforgue and Russian mathematician Vladimir Voevodsky.

At the opening ceremony, the 2002 Nevanlinna Prize, another renowned award in the mathematics community, was granted to Indian mathematician Madhu Sudan.

The ICM was first held in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1897 and is considered an academic conference of the highest level in the international mathematics community. The congress is held every four years.

Mathematics is the base of high technology and to some extent the symbol of modern civilization, said Vice-Premier Li Lanqing at the opening ceremony.

Li said the Chinese Government fully supports the development of science and technology and has made a series of national plans to enhance research in basic sciences, including mathematics.

For example, financial aid offered by the

The congress in Beijing offers a precious opportunity for Chinese mathematicians to learn from and seek cooperation with their foreign counterparts, Li said.

He hoped the congress would mark a new starting point for the development of mathematics as well as other sciences.

According to Ma Zhiming, chairman of the organizing committee of the ICM 2002 and president of the Chinese Mathematical Society, 4,270 mathematicians from 101 countries and regions are attending the congress.

A total of 20 plenary lectures and 174 invitational lectures will be delivered during the congress and represent the latest advancement and frontier achievements in mathematics, Ma said.

A plenary lecture lasts one hour at the ICM and an invitational lecture lasts 45 minutes. It is considered a great honor for a mathematician to have the chance to deliver such lectures.

Ma said public talks on a range of topics and special activities relating to the congress have been arranged to attract the public to modern mathematics.

For example, a Juvenile Mathematics Forum and a ICM 2002 Mathematics Summer Campus have been organized to spark enthusiasm among young generations for mathematics.

The interest of the Chinese public in mathematics was initially ignited when Stephen Hawking, the renowned Cambridge professor, delivered a speech at Beijing International Convention Center on Sunday.

Titled "Brane New World,'' Hawking's speech attracted more than 2,200 people, including domestic and foreign scientists, professors, teachers, university students, and citizens with no background in science.

(China Daily August 21, 2002)