Advancing Chinese modernization through sci-tech innovation

On July 8, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for solid efforts to leverage sci-tech innovation to underpin and drive Chinese modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a meeting in Beijing that brought together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology. He presented China's top sci-tech award.

Xi fully recognized the progress China has made in science and technology in recent years, analyzed the new landscape facing sci-tech development, and outlined key tasks for implementing the CPC Central Committee's plans for the country's sci-tech development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

Held in the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the meeting served as a major event for China's scientific community. It inspired the Party, society, and particularly sci-tech workers to forge ahead with determination and innovation, make steady progress toward the 2035 goal of becoming a leading country in science and technology, and contribute more to advancing the cause of building China into a great country on all fronts and realizing great national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

Chinese modernization must be underpinned by advancements in sci-tech modernization, and achieving high-quality development relies on new growth drivers cultivated by innovation in science and technology.

China has made steady advances in sci-tech innovation. Major original achievements have emerged in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, life sciences and materials science. The Chang'e-6 mission completed humanity's first-ever sample return from the moon's far side, while innovative drugs leapt from imitation and follow-on research to world-first development. Domestically-bred crop varieties have covered over 95 percent of the country's farmland. Emerging industries such as integrated circuits, biomedicine and intelligent robotics have been booming. Frontier technologies, including hydrogen energy, nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces and sixth-generation mobile communications, have become new areas of growth.

Since the beginning of the new era, particularly during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China has made solid progress in advancing Chinese modernization and expanding the size of its economy, which has surpassed 140 trillion yuan (about $20.6 trillion). A key factor behind these achievements has been the country's commitment to recognizing the strategically leading and fundamental supporting role of science and technology and placing sci-tech innovation at the forefront of its modernization drive.

China is now accelerating its transition from a global participant and contributor in science and technology to a pioneer and leader, and has become one of the countries with the fastest growing innovation capacity.

At the meeting, Xi outlined six priority tasks, including enhancing capacity for making systematic sci-tech breakthroughs, promoting the deep integration of sci-tech innovation with industrial innovation, and cultivating young sci-tech talents.

On the new journey in the new era, it is a glorious mission yet a daunting task to advance the great cause of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. The urgency and heavy responsibility of building China into a global leader in science and technology are pressing upon us. Let us closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, stay focused on our goals, harbor great ambitions, strengthen our unwavering confidence and accelerate efforts to achieve high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and turn this grand vision into a splendid reality step by step.