On December 19, 1989, the Conference of the National Science and Technology Awards was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The Party and State leaders attended the conference and awarded prizes to the winners. President Jiang Zemin made a speech at the conference on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and said we should adhere to the priority of the development of science and technology, as well as to persist in relying on scientific and technological progress to improve economic and social benefits.