Fundamental theories and mathematical methods in physics have always been important parts of physics. They play an essential role in guiding and in promoting the development of physics and even natural science. The recent progresses in quantum field theory and quantum gravity have changed some of our general comprehensions and views towards them, highlighting the importance of basic theoretical research. To solve some of the fundamental issues in physics, such as dark matter, dark energy and quantum gravity, we must first have a profound and deep understanding of them. This will serve as a basis for further development and advance in physics and in science in general.

After years of efforts, China has accumulated and made considerable progress in the fundamental theories of high energy physics and other related fields. But at the same time, we need to realize that the achievements in originality and with international influence are quite slim. If we want to have a place in the area of theoretical high energy physics with a worldwide recognition, it is necessary for us to cultivate and to build a competitive group of talented people, especially the young ones, in this area, and to encourage them to carry out a first-rate research emphasizing primarily on the depth and originality, in an atmosphere that puts the academic research first.

The establishment of Peng Huanwu Center for Fundamental Theory (PCFT) is an important concrete step to achieve this. The 7-th scientific committee for the special fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China decided in its second annual meeting in 2019 that the University of Science and Technology of China along with the Northwest University, given their respective establishments in the formal aspects of high energy theories and in quantum integrable systems, to build jointly the PCFT in High Energy Physics. The focus of this center is on areas such as the general mathematical structure of quantum field theory, quantum gravity including String/M theory and the related mathematical physics along with the associated high quality academic activities.   

With the joint and accumulated efforts of the members of this center along with others, we hope that certain breakthroughs can be made on some of the key issues mentioned above, enhancing our understanding of fundamental laws of physics, in the foreseeable future.