On May 8th, 2017, opening ceremony of the twentieth session of United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development (UNCSTD) was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Wang Ruijun, expertising in STI planning, policy and evaluation, 2013 Eisenhower fellow, The Director Generalof the National Center for Science & Technology Evaluation (NCSTE), as the Candidate recommended by the Chinese government, specifically by the Ministry of S&T, was elected as the chair of UNCSTD for its twentieth session. This is the first time a Chinese expert obtained such a prominentappointment since 1992 when UNCSTD established.
 
UNCSTD is the highest level intergovernmental Commission on science and technology in the United Nations system, which is affiliated to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Its duty is to raise high level advice on technology and innovation issues for UNGA and ECOSOC, assist to formulate guidelines for UNGA, and coordinate the policies relating to scientific and technological activities of UNGA system.
 
Mukhisa Kituyi, the secretary-general of UNCTAD, lavished praise on Chinese Government’s contributions to UNCSTD. He said that the Chinese expert elected as the rotating chairman has been recognized by all members, and firmly believes that the development of Chinese scientific and technological innovation can provide useful experience and reference for the international community.
 
More than 240 delegates from Member States, observers, multilateral institutions, non-governmental organizations and academia attended the meeting.