Is China ready to host 2030 Maths Olympics?

China is seeking to host the 2030 Maths Olympics for the second time, after the first one in 2002. Mathematician Shing-Tung Yau is leading a team of 40 Chinese and international mathematicians in the bid for the 2030 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM).

The ICM is an important platform for many mathematical researchers. Yau is the first Chinese to grab the Fields Medal for his promising contributions in differential geometry. He retired from Harvard Uni in 2022 to teach at Tsinghua Uni and help China lead in the field.

Yau has set up multiple institutions across China such as the maths centre in Tsinghua and an institute in the capital Beijing. These entities attract top local and international talent. He seeks to inspire young Chinese researchers and scholars to stand out on the global stage.

The International Congress of Mathematicians, first held in Zurich in 1897, is attended by thousands of mathematicians from different countries. It is staged once in four years and the next edition shall be held in Philadelphia in 2026.

The International Mathematical Union (IMU) presents a number of different prizes at the Congress. These prizes are considered the highest mathematical honours, including the Fields Medals. Japan and Britain are also possibly applying to host the 2030 edition.