Striving to Build a Country Strong in Science and Technology

Striving to Build a Country Strong in Science and Technology

XI JINPING

This is a significant scientific and technological gathering, which comes at a critical juncture in our endeavor to build a great country and move toward national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. First of all, on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), allow me to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all groups and individuals honored with the 2023 National Science and Technology Awards. I would also like to convey my deepest regards to the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as to all scientists and engineers across the country. Additionally, I warmly welcome foreign academicians and distinguished friends from the international scientific community who have joined us here today.

A nation thrives through scientific advancement; a country grows strong with technological prowess. The advancement of science and technology has always been a high priority for our Party. Indeed, since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Central Committee has steadily promoted an innovation-driven development strategy, established the strategic objective of accelerating the building of a country of innovators, and set the long-term goal of becoming a country strong in science and technology by 2035. To achieve these objectives, we have ceaselessly worked to deepen scientific and technological structural reform, fully unleashed the drive, initiative, and creativity of our scientists and engineers, and pushed hard to boost our self-reliance and strength in science and technology. These efforts have resulted in historic breakthroughs and shifts in China’s scientific landscape. 

Breakthrough discoveries have been made in basic and cutting-edge research, with a multitude of notable original advancements coming in fields such as quantum technology, life science, materials science, and space science. These include Chinese scientists successfully proving two fundamental conjectures in differential geometry, achieving chemical small molecule-induced reprogramming of human cells, and realizing technological creation by synthesizing artificial starch from carbon dioxide.

President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the joint convening of the National Science and Technology Conference, the National Science and Technology Award Conference, the 21st General Assembly of Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the 17th General Assembly of Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, June 24, 2024. PHOTO BY XINHUA REPORTER YAO DAWEI

We have also made leapfrog progress in strategic high technologies. The Chang’e lunar mission successfully retrieved samples from the moon, the Tianhe core module was deployed into orbit, and the Tianwen Mars probe conducted exploratory missions. The continental drilling rig Diqiao 1 penetrated deep into the earth’s crust, and the deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe descended to a depth of 10,000 meters below the ocean surface. Moreover, the world’s first fourth-generation nuclear power plant has commenced commercial operations in China.

We have scored new success in driving high-quality development through innovation. Emerging industries, such as integrated circuits and artificial intelligence, have seen a surge in growth. Our world’s first 6G experimental satellite has successfully taken to the skies. The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System now offers precise positioning services globally. China’s homegrown large passenger aircraft has entered commercial operation, our high-speed rail technology has become a global benchmark, and our new energy vehicle sector is injecting new momentum into the global automotive industry. Advances in biotech breeding, pharmaceutical innovation, and green and low-carbon technologies are bolstering food security and driving forward the Beautiful China and Healthy China initiatives.

President Xi Jinping presents medals and certificates for China’s top science and technology award for the year 2023 to Li Deren (right), an academician of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) from Wuhan University, and Xue Qikun, an academician of CAS from Tsinghua University, during the National Science and Technology Award Conference, which was held in conjunction with the National Science and Technology Conference, the 21st General Assembly of Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the 17th General Assembly of Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, June 24, 2024. PHOTO BY XINHUA REPORTER JU PENG

We have embarked on a new phase in scientific and technological structural reform. We have overhauled the science and technology management framework and sped up the deployment of China’s strategic science and technology forces. This has unlocked greater potential in our innovation entities and personnel. We have gained new headway in promoting international openness and cooperation by actively launching international scientific and technological cooperation initiatives and leading international Big Science programs. As a result, China’s influence as a pivotal force in global innovation has continued to grow. All this progress has helped lay a solid foundation for building China into a country strong in science and technology.

Through our practical endeavors to develop science and technology in the new era, we have steadily deepened our understanding of underlying laws and developed a range of effective practices, including:

• upholding the CPC’s overall leadership, strengthening the Central Committee’s centralized, unified leadership over science and technology work, identifying macro trends, planning from an overarching perspective, addressing fundamental issues, and ensuring science and technology always remain on the right development track; 

• following China’s distinctive innovation path, relying on our own efforts and working hard, leveraging the strengths of China’s socialist system to pool resources for major undertakings, moving toward greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and maintaining a firm grasp on the lifelines of science and technology and the initiative in development;

• pursuing innovation-driven development, acting on the principle that to focus on innovation is to drive development and that to plan for innovation is to set the vision for the future, and driving high-quality development and ensuring greater security through scientific and technological innovation; 

• maintaining the strategic orientation of targeting the global frontiers of science and technology, national economic development, the major needs of the country, and the health and safety of our people, strengthening deployment across the entire innovation chain and strategic planning in all domains of scientific and technological innovation, and enhancing China’s science, technology, and innovation capacity across the board;

• deepening reform to stimulate greater creativity, discarding all thinking and institutions that hinder innovation in science and technology, and effectively translating our country’s institutional strengths into a competitive edge in science and technology;

• promoting sound interactions between education, science and technology, and talent, coordinating strategies to invigorate China through science and education, build a strong nation through talent development, and drive development through innovation, and taking a holistic approach to promoting education, scientific and technological innovation, and personnel training;

• nurturing a culture of innovation, carrying forward the innovative heritage of the traditional Chinese culture, creating an enabling environment that encourages exploration and tolerates failure, and cultivating a society where scientific pursuit and innovation are widely embraced;

• persisting in openness and cooperation in science and technology to benefit all humanity, pursuing a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up, and contributing Chinese insights and strength to efforts to address various global challenges and promote human progress.

These experiences are of immense value to us. We must uphold them over the long term and continue to enrich and develop them through ongoing practice. 

Distinguished Academicians, Comrades, and Friends,

At present, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is well under way. Scientific research is continually transcending the boundaries of human understanding, exploring both the macroscopic and microscopic extremes, advancing toward extreme conditions, and propelling innovation across highly integrated and interdisciplinary domains. Technological innovation has entered a period of unprecedented intensity and dynamism, with frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum science, and biotechnology emerging in tandem and driving transformative chain reactions across multiple fields. Meanwhile, as the world undergoes momentous changes of a magnitude not seen in a century, the technological revolution and major-country competition are increasingly intertwined. The high-tech sector has emerged as both the forefront and main arena of international competition, profoundly reshaping the global order and development landscape. Although China has made significant advancements in science and technology, our capacity for original innovation remains relatively limited. Certain core technologies in key areas remain constrained by external factors, and there is a shortage of top-tier scientific and technological talent. In response to these challenges, we must heighten our sense of urgency, intensify efforts to advance innovation, and strive to secure the strategic high ground in global technological competition and future development.

At its 20th National Congress, our Party formally defined the core mission of building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. The success of Chinese modernization hinges on the support of scientific and technological modernization, while the attainment of high-quality development is contingent on innovation to foster new growth drivers. We must fully recognize the strategic leading position and fundamental underpinning role of science and technology as we strive toward the strategic objective of building China into a country strong in science and technology by 2035. To this end, we must strengthen top-level design and comprehensive planning and move faster to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology.

To build China into a country strong in science and technology, we must develop world-class capabilities and innovation prowess that provide strong support for enhancing our economic strength, national defense capabilities, and composite national strength. This will also help to improve human wellbeing and boost global development. 

To attain this objective, we must develop the following fundamental qualities:

First, we must develop robust capabilities in basic research and original innovation, consistently delivering major, disruptive breakthroughs in science and technology.

Second, we must develop a strong ability to make breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, effectively supporting high-quality development and high-level security.

Third, we must develop considerable international influence and leadership capacity in science and technology, making China a globally recognized hub for scientific advancement and innovation.

Fourth, we must develop a solid capacity for nurturing and aggregating high-caliber scientific talent, steadily expanding our pool of world-class experts and bolstering national strategic scientific and technological forces.

Fifth, we must develop a robust system and capacity for science and technology governance, creating a world-class innovation and research environment.

President Xi Jinping meets with the representatives of space scientists and engineers who participated in the research and development of the Chang’e-6 lunar mission, September 23, 2024. President Xi, along with other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, met with the representatives at the Great Hall of the People and viewed lunar samples and an exhibition on the lunar exploration project’s achievements. PHOTO BY XINHUA REPORTER XIE HUANCHI

Distinguished Academicians, Comrades, and Friends,

We now have just 11 years to achieve our goal of making China a country strong in science and technology. There is an ancient saying that speaks of taking ten years to forge a perfect sword. We need to demonstrate the same commitment and dedication, making every moment count, working with unwavering purpose, and advancing step by step until we turn our strategic vision into reality.

First, we should fully leverage the strengths of the new system for mobilizing resources nationwide to work faster toward achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology 

We must improve the system through which the CPC Central Committee exercises unified leadership over science and technology work. We need to strengthen coordination across multiple dimensions, from strategic planning to policies and measures, major tasks, scientific research resources, resource platforms, and regional innovation. On this basis, we should establish a collaborative and efficient decision-making and command system, along with an effective organizational implementation framework, so as to generate powerful synergy to drive scientific and technological innovation. 

We need to fully leverage the decisive role of the market in allocating science and technology resources and give better play to the role of the government. We should mobilize the initiative of industries, universities, and research institutes, fostering a collaborative working framework to drive breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields.

We need to boost China’s strength in strategic science and technology. To this end, we should better define the roles and layout of our scientific and technological forces, refine the national laboratory system, and promote the integrated development of China’s innovation system. 

We need to maintain strategic resolve, being clear about which initiatives to pursue and which ones to deprioritize. Based on the needs of China’s national strategies, we should make strategic science and technology arrangements in key areas and implement a curated portfolio of major projects, so as to build competitive advantages and secure the strategic initiative. 

We need to ensure that basic research is conducted in a more organized way. We should improve the basic research investment mechanisms to ensure support on both a competitive and sustained basis. We should strengthen coordinated initiatives that target critical scientific challenges. At the same time, we should also encourage autonomous explorations to develop original theoretical frameworks and master underlying technological principles, thereby solidifying the foundational pillars of scientific and technological innovation. 

Second, we should take solid steps to promote integrated advancements in technological and industrial innovation and facilitate the development of new quality productive forces

Integration hinges on increasing the supply of high-quality technologies. We must intensify R&D efforts with a focus on key areas and weak links in the development of our modern industrial system. Targeted efforts should be made to remove bottlenecks in areas such as integrated circuits, industrial machine tools, basic software, advanced materials, research equipment, and core germplasm, so as to provide the technological support to ensure that key industrial and supply chains are self-developed, secure, and controllable. 

To gain the upper hand in future technological and industrial development, we need to foster emerging and future industries, striving to accelerate innovation in areas such as next-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, new energy, and new materials. We must work proactively to apply new technologies to traditional industries in order to advance their transformation and upgrading and make them higher-end, smarter, and more eco-friendly.

The key to integration lies in reinforcing the principal role of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation. We must fully leverage the pacesetting role of leading high-tech enterprises, encourage innovation among small and medium-sized enterprises and private enterprises, and provide support to enterprises that are leading or participating in major national science and technology programs. We should also urge enterprises to closely cooperate with universities and research institutes to jointly identify key scientific and technological challenges based on industrial needs, carry out research for breakthroughs, and train scientists and engineers. These efforts will drive innovation through enterprise-led collaborations among industries, universities, and research institutes.

Integration also requires promoting the application of scientific and technological advances. We should leverage the strengths of our industrial base and enormous market to enhance our national technology transfer system. We should provide better policy support and market services to advance the application and upgrading of homegrown products. This will enable us to transform more scientific and technological advances from prototypes into products and promote the development of industries. Steps should also be taken to develop technology finance, encouraging financial capital to invest in the early stages of projects, in smaller enterprises, over long horizons, and in advanced core technologies.

Third, we should deepen scientific and technological structural reform to fully unleash innovation vitality and creativity

We should continue to employ both goal- and problem-oriented approaches in reform. With a focus on tackling the issues of insufficient organization and synergy in scientific and technological innovation as well as scattered and duplicated resources, we should continue the reform of the management system for science and technology, working to better coordinate the development of various innovation platforms and the allocation of innovation resource and better organize innovative capabilities. We need to refine the regional layout of scientific and technological innovation by strengthening coordination and collaboration between central and local levels and developing innovation centers with global influence. To make better use of investments in innovation, we must improve the management of science and technology plans, advance the reform of mechanisms for the allocation, management, and utilization of research funds, and grant research institutions and researchers greater decision-making power.

Positive progress has been made in reducing the burden on researchers in recent years, but many of them say they are still struggling under the weight of non-academic burdens. We need to keep working to break away from the outdated criteria that overemphasize research papers, academic titles, educational backgrounds, and awards and put in place new standards. We need to step up efforts to refine our category-based assessment systems and evaluation mechanisms in line with the laws underlying research activities. To see that more outstanding researchers can receive reasonable returns and unleash their creativity, we need to improve incentives concerning rewards for scientific and technological advances, income distribution, and rights over research outputs. Continued efforts should be made to address the issue of coveting honorary titles, allowing researchers to focus fully on their work without the distractions of having to make excessive efforts to apply for projects, publish papers, or compete for awards and resources.

Fourth, we should promote integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent cultivation to build up our competitive strengths in talent 

Scientific and technological innovation depends on talent, and talent cultivation is inseparable from education. These three elements constitute an integral and mutually reinforcing whole. Adopting a systemic approach, we should deepen integrated reform of institutions and mechanisms for education, science and technology, and talent development, refine the mechanism for educational cooperation between research institutes and universities, and move faster to create a large, well-structured, and high-quality innovative talent pool.

At present, China faces pronounced structural mismatches between the available talent pool and the demands of scientific and technological innovation. Guided by the needs of innovation, we should optimize academic disciplines in higher education, develop new training methods, and effectively improve our ability to nurture talent domestically. A top priority is to accelerate efforts to build a contingent of professionals with strategically critical expertise. Our focus should be on cultivating science strategists, leading scientists and innovation teams, outstanding engineers, master craftsmen, and highly-skilled workers. Additionally, we must give prominent attention to training young scientists, providing them with our full trust, freedom to pursue their work, attentive guidance, and genuine care, so as to help more young top-tier talent rise to prominence.

We should adopt more proactive, open, and effective policies on talent, move faster to create internationally competitive personnel systems, and develop innovation centers that attract global wisdom and resources.

A favorable cultural environment for innovation is essential for the growth and development of talent. We should continue to foster a social atmosphere that respects work, knowledge, talent, and creativity, vigorously champion the spirit of our nation’s scientists, and inspire all researchers to aim high, dedicate themselves to the country, and determinedly pursue innovation. We should strengthen awareness of research integrity and improve academic practices to create a clean and upright ecosystem for scientific research.

Fifth, we should continue advancing the vision of building a global community of shared future by expanding opening up and cooperation in science and technology

Scientific and technological progress is an issue of defining significance for our world and our times. The only right path forward for us is through openness and cooperation. The more complex the international environment grows, the more we must open our doors to the outside world. We must strike a balance between openness and security while building China’s strength and self-reliance through openness and cooperation.

Acting on the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative, we should expand the channels for both inter-governmental and non-governmental exchanges and cooperation, leverage platforms like the Belt and Road Initiative, take the lead in major international Big Science programs and projects, and support researchers worldwide in joint research. We should actively work to integrate ourselves into the global innovation network and fully engage in global scientific and technological governance. China is ready to collaborate with countries around the world to create an open, fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory international environment for scientific and technological development and address global challenges such as climate change, food security, and energy security, so that science and technology can better serve humanity.

Distinguished Academicians, Comrades, and Friends,

Boosting China’s strength in science and technology represents both a heavy responsibility and a glorious mission for those working in the field. I hope that academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as leading representatives, can make new contributions to our country’s scientific development. I hope you will take on major responsibilities, lead the charge toward the scientific frontier, accomplish major tasks, mentor outstanding young talent, and inspire dedication to science. I also hope that our scientists and engineers will consciously align their academic pursuits with the great cause of building China into a country strong in science and technology, advancing with determination, pursuing true excellence, and striving for new feats that are worthy of the times and live up to the people’s expectations.

Boosting China’s strength in science and technology is also the collective responsibility of the entire Party and nation. Party committees and governments at all levels must conscientiously implement the Central Committee’s decisions and plans, take solid steps to strengthen organization, leadership, and management in scientific and technological work, and make all-out efforts to provide better services and support. All leading officials need to attach great importance to acquiring new scientific knowledge, thereby enhancing their capacity for leading and promoting scientific and technological progress.

Distinguished Academicians, Comrades, and Friends,

Building China into a country strong in science and technology has been the enduring aspiration of the Chinese nation since modern times. Generation after generation have dedicated themselves tirelessly to this goal. Today, the historic baton has been passed to us. Keeping this great ambition in mind, let us redouble our efforts, work together, and forge ahead with resolve to turn China into a country strong in science and technology.

This speech was delivered by President Xi Jinping at the joint convening of the National Science and Technology Conference, the National Science and Technology Award Conference, the 21st General Assembly of Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the 17th General Assembly of Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering on June 24, 2024.

(Originally appeared in Qiushi Journal, Chinese edition, No. 7, 2025)