bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
        published
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
        published
      }
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        relatedNewsletters {
          ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
          id
        }
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
  ... on Video {
    youtubeId
  }
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on SectionUnion {
  __isSectionUnion: __typename
  ... on Section {
    name
  }
  ... on VideoSection {
    name
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        entityId
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        entityId
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on VideoSection {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sectionsV2 {
    value {
      __typename
      ... on Section {
        name
      }
      ... on Node {
        __isNode: __typename
        id
      }
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


types

sectionsV2

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

Zhang Tong

Even before the world’s top mathematicians gather in Philadelphia for the International Congress of Mathematicians later this month, a high-stakes battle is unfolding over where the global event will next take place.
Spearheaded by 1982 Fields Medallist and Tsinghua University professor Shing-Tung Yau, Hong Kong’s bid to host the 2030 congress faces competition from Glasgow and Tokyo.
An inspection delegation from the International Mathematical Union (IMU) – the congress’s governing body – completed site visits at all three candidate cities in February. The final decision is set to be unveiled at the IMU general assembly in New York on July 21.
Yau and fellow academic Wong Wing-hung described the Hong Kong bid as coinciding with a “tipping point”, when America’s long-standing dominance in mathematical sciences was beginning to cede ground to a rapidly rising China.
According to Yau, the bid was formally launched last year under the auspices of the Hong Kong Mathematical Society, with strong backing from the Chinese Mathematical Society.


The IMU’s inspection team left visibly impressed by their visit, Yau said, especially with respect to Hong Kong’s immigration policy.
“Hong Kong is essentially the only place where you can land without a visa from almost anywhere,” he said.
With visa-free access for nationals of more than 170 countries and streamlined processing for the few that require clearance, the city offered a level of logistical ease that no other contender could match, Yau added.
Beyond convenience, Hong Kong boasts a formidable academic pedigree.
Its home-grown mathematicians include Yau, along with Siu Yum-tong, Cheng Shiu-yuen and Mok Ngai-ming. All have held tenured professorships at influential American research universities such as Columbia, Harvard, Stanford, UCLA and Yale.
The bid team put forward a proposal aimed at supporting participants from developing countries and those early in their careers. It includes free on-campus accommodation across Hong Kong’s leading universities for all registered participants.
The proposal also includes more than 2,000 airfare subsidies and registration fee waivers for delegates from developing countries as defined by the IMU, as well as the same level of support for 1,500 early-career mathematicians and 500 applied mathematicians.
If the 2030 ICM was held in Hong Kong, an estimated 4,000 mathematicians would be able to attend the event at virtually no personal cost.
Organisers also plan to hold a dedicated three-day applied mathematics conference ahead of the main congress, seeking to draw leading researchers from adjacent fields.
Yet, for Yau and Wong, the bid is not just about ensuring international mathematicians could afford to take part in the quadrennial gathering.
Hosting the event will coincide with a tectonic shift in which the centre of gravity in global mathematics research has steadily migrated eastward.
Yau recalled his own departure from Hong Kong for graduate studies in the United States in 1969.

“Back then, American campuses were full of protests against the Vietnam war, students chanting for world peace,” he said. “You never heard the phrase ‘America first’.”
“Now, over the past decade, that is all we hear,” Yau added, noting the doctrine’s ascendancy had driven many foreign scientists away from US institutions.
More than 2,500 mathematicians from at least 76 countries have signed an online petition to “move the 2026 ICM out of the US” and “commit not to participate in the ICM if it is to be held in the US”.
Some mathematicians in China who signed the petition in April said that moving the gathering online or to another country without travel uncertainties would encourage more international peers to attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, China has spent the past 20 years cultivating a new generation of mathematicians while simultaneously attracting a substantial cohort of top international scholars.
“We hope the international congress can serve as a beacon, showing the world that Asian mathematics is truly rising and, in a meaningful sense, beginning to take a leadership position,” Yau said.
Wong, a professor of statistics and biomedical data science at Stanford, pointed to what he described as a troubling trend: US government funding for basic science is shrinking year by year.
“We’re talking about budget cuts of 20 to 30 per cent annually,” said Wong, who is a fellow of the US National Academy of Sciences.
If that trajectory continued, he warned, “we could see a 40 to 50 per cent drop in the next generation of graduate students over the next few years”.
“The ripple effects would be incalculable.”
Wong, who has taught at US universities for decades, said that “every year, many of the very best PhD applicants we see come from Chinese undergraduate programmes”.
But he called the flight-to-America pattern unsustainable.
“China is a major power. Its finest students should ultimately pursue advanced studies at home,” Wong said. “That moment has now arrived.”

At this July’s congress in Philadelphia, two mathematicians of Chinese origin – Wang Hong and Deng Yu – are widely tipped as strong contenders for the Fields Medal, regarded as the “Nobel Prize of mathematics”.
Yau praised both highly. He said Wang had completed a proof of the three-dimensional Kakeya conjecture, “a problem that has tormented mathematicians for decades”.
Deng, meanwhile, had achieved a breakthrough in deriving fluid equations from fundamental physical laws in what Yau called “a truly big result”.
Looking to the future of Chinese mathematics, Yau and Wong offered a blend of optimism and caution.
Yau voiced concern about persistent inequities in research funding allocation, saying: “Some academics receive billions of yuan per year, while others doing outstanding work get by on just 200,000 (US$29,000) or 300,000.”
Yau also took aim at the practice of requiring status as an academician to be able to make major decisions.
“Academicians tend to have outdated opinions, and they are not necessarily abreast of the very latest frontier developments,” he said.
By contrast, Wong observed that the US system was more institutionally robust.
“Funding competition there is fierce – even Nobel laureates get rejected,” he said. “But they accept it as fair and do not make a scene.”
In China, however, Yau noted that “if an academician’s project is turned down, he might throw a fit”. Wong recommended further reforms to China’s cross-disciplinary funding mechanisms and peer-review processes.
Despite these hurdles, both mathematicians were hopeful about the country’s prospects.
“China’s young people should know this country has not just a future, but a great future, one capable of leading the entire world,” Yau said.
Wong hoped that hosting the 2030 congress would leave global mathematicians with a lasting impression of Hong Kong, encouraging them to “send their best students to Hong Kong, to the Greater Bay Area, to China for their education”.
“For decades, America thrived scientifically because the world’s brightest minds flocked there,” he said, adding that he wanted to see that “same phenomenon emerge” in China, Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.


As China narrows maths gap with US, Hong Kong bids to host 2030 global event

Hong Kong's open immigration policy is a selling point for hosting global events. Photo: Karma Lo

Shing-Tung Yau serves as dean of Tsinghua University’s Qiuzhen College in Beijing. Photo: Handout

Many of America’s best PhD applicants have come from Chinese undergraduate programmes. Photo: Handout

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China

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Top mathematicians see candidacy as ‘tipping point’, with one saying ‘moment has now arrived’ for finest Chinese students to study at home


Top mathematicians see candidacy as ‘tipping point’, with one saying ‘moment has now arrived’ for finest Chinese students to study at home.


As China narrows maths gap with US, Hong Kong bids to host 2030 global event

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Top mathematicians see candidacy as ‘tipping point’, with one saying ‘moment has now arrived’ for finest Chinese students to study at home

Top mathematicians see candidacy as ‘tipping point’, with one saying ‘moment has now arrived’ for finest Chinese students to study at home