Abstract: From the 1950s to the 1970s, analytic number theory was one of the few fields where Chinese mathematicians made the most important achievements, among which their contributions to Goldbach conjecture were the most prominent. The investigation of the archives shows that the main goal of number theory plan formulated by Hua Loo-keng in 1953 was not analytic number theory, but algebraic number theory. In the 12-Year Program for the Development of Science and Technology, both analytic number theory and algebraic number theory were emphasized; and Goldbach conjecture was not one of the priority directions in analytic number theory. Why did algebraic number theory fail to develop as expected in the actual development process, while the achievements on Goldbach conjecture far exceeded the expectations of the plans? Were the plans improperly formulated in the key directions? This article will give a multiple-perspective investigation on these issues.

Key Words: Analytic number theory; Algebra number theory; Goldbach conjecture; Plan of mathematics; Hua Loo-keng

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