On the 4th of July, 2018, the first General Assembly of the newly established International Science Council (ISC) was held in Paris, France. Prof. Li Jinghai, the president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the vice president of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), was elected as the vice president of the ISC for a term of 2018-2021.

The ISC, formed by merging the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Council for Social Sciences (ISSC), is now the world largest comprehensive science organization. It has the widest coverage of members and disciplines with a strong impact in the international science communities. The ISC currently has 143 organization members, 39 union members, and 31 affiliated members. Professor Li was elected as the vice president of ICSU in 2014. During his term of service, he did a significant contribution and built a very positive impact for ICSU. In the year of 2018, as one of the national members, the China Association of Science and Technology nominated Professor Li to attend the vice presidential election of the ISC.

Li’s successful election will help promote China's participation in global scientific and technological governance, enhance the leadership of Chinese scientists in the international scientific and technological field, facilitate the collaboration between the NSFC and its international partners and reinforce the contribution of China in the world scientific communities.