Innovation a solid foundation for competitiveness

CHINA DAILY

Friends,

We are gathered today for the important occasion of the National Science and Technology Awards Conference to honor professionals in science and technology who have made outstanding contributions to advances in their own fields and to the modernization of China overall. Just now, General Secretary Xi Jinping and other Party and State leaders presented the Highest National Award of Science and Technology to academician Zhao Zhongxian and researcher Tu Youyou and conferred other awards to their winners. Here, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, I wish to extend warm congratulations to all the award-winners, and convey cordial greetings and high regards to all the science and technology professionals in China. My deep appreciation also goes to foreign experts who have participated in and supported the development of science and technology in China.

Thanks to the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, China made notable strides in economic and social development despite the complex and grim internal and external environments last year. Major milestones were recorded in the fields of science and technology and numerous outcomes in innovation were achieved. The CPC Central Committee and State Council convened the National Science, Technology and Innovation Conference, as a clarion call to build China into a science and technology giant. Vigorous efforts are being made to implement an innovation-driven development strategy, such as the promulgation of the Outline of the National Strategy on Innovation-driven Development and the launch of programs for major science, technology and innovation projects toward 2030.Reform of science and technology institutions and innovation in their management have accelerated, and a distribution policy that puts premium on the value of knowledge has been introduced, which has effectively incentivized science researchers.

Significant breakthroughs have been made in science and technology, many of them at an internationally advanced level. Let me list a few: The Shenzhou 11 manned spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong 2 space lab and astronauts managed a medium-term stay in space. The world's largest single aperture spherical telescope went into operation. The world's first quantum science experimental satellite "Mozi" was launched. The supercomputer "Sunway TaihuLight" powered by a homemade chip holds the current world speed record. Outcomes of science, technology and innovation are now being commercialized at a faster pace. The initiative of mass entrepreneurship and innovation has gained strong momentum. Innovation as the primary driving force is exerting a notably positive impact on growth. "Innovated in China" has won international recognition, made the Chinese people proud and unleashed enormous energy that has invigorated the whole nation.

A new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is in the making, further sharpening international competition to stay ahead of the curve. China has entered a new phase of economic development featuring deep structural adjustments and renewal of driving forces. Only through innovation can China sustain the strong momentum of development. More than ever the powerful force of science, technology and innovation is called for. We must conscientiously study and act on the thinking laid out in the important speeches of General Secretary Xi Jinping, put innovation at the center of development and follow the new vision on development. Specifically we will focus on supply-side structural reform, deepen the implementation of innovation-driven development, and transform the traditional drivers of growth while fostering new ones, with a view to maintaining a medium-high rate of growth and reaching a medium-high level of development.