The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) has completed its selection of new academicians for 2017, among which are 18 foreigners including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Gates is also founder and chairman of TerraPower, a leading nuclear innovation company.

Every other year, CAE, China's top engineering technology institution, adds new names to its roster. The selection is undoubtedly seen as a weather vane in China's engineering science and technology community. There are two striking points of the standards in this year's selection process. First is the overriding focus on candidates' academic styles and moral integrity. Second is that the proportions of frontline engineers and experts, as well as those from remote inland regions, have increased.

This year saw CAE add the biggest number of foreign academicians. According to CAE rules, these foreigners must have achieved a high technological and engineering level, enjoy a good reputation in the world and have made a great contribution to China's engineering science and technology progress.

The expansion of the foreign academician camp in CAE will undoubtedly help push forward China's exchanges and cooperation with the rest of the world in terms of engineering science and technology. Particularly, the joining of luminaries like Gates will encourage more foreign experts to participate in China's engineering science and technology research.

Scientists and technologists are crucial for a country's progress and prosperity. Globalization makes academic exchange more frequent, and national borders are nonexistent for science and technology. Therefore, a more open and inclusive talent policy will greatly help improve China's competitiveness in the global arena.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article published in Guangzhou Daily on November 28)