For the first time since the prize was created in 1936, two Chinese nationals – Wang Hong and Deng Yu – are among the four laureates of the Fields Medal. The winners were announced at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Philadelphia. 

In an interview with CGTN's Liu Jiaxin, Shing-Tung Yau, the first Chinese-born Fields Medalist, called the moment “extremely exciting,” praising their cross-disciplinary work and stressing that their homegrown success will encourage young Chinese students – especially girls. Yau also underscored China's unprecedented support for basic sciences and its growing role as a global hub for fundamental research.