Chinese mathematicians Deng Yu and Wang Hong were awarded the Fields Medal at the 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians on Thursday, marking the first time Chinese mathematicians have won the prestigious honor.

Xia Zhihong, editor-in-chief of The Intellectual and a mathematics chair professor at Great Bay University, called the awards "a hugely significant moment for mathematical research, mathematics education and science in China."

Noting that both Wang and Deng spent their early academic years in the country and were members of Peking University's 2007 undergraduate cohort, Xia said their shared background showed how students can benefit from encouraging and challenging one another, while their different educational paths demonstrated the value of diverse approaches to developing mathematical talent. More than 20 mathematicians of Chinese descent were invited to speak at this year's congress, including at least 14 Peking University faculty members or alumni, The Intellectual reported.

Shing-Tung Yau, who in 1982 became the first mathematician of Chinese descent to win the Fields Medal, told CGTN that Wang and Deng's achievements could encourage more young people to study mathematics.

"I think many youngsters will feel that they can do it also, especially for women students," Yau said. "Because many Chinese families believed that women are not quite appropriate to study math. But now, if they see that a great Chinese woman achieves the highest honor in the subject, they may feel very good to see their daughters get into math."

Yau said the awards showed that China had developed first-class mathematics and could contribute more to research in other countries.

"We could help America, we could help Europe, and vice versa; we welcome them to come over here to help us also," he told CGTN. "Mathematics has no borders about cooperation."