Xi calls for technological breakthroughs

President praises Chinese Academy of Sciences for successes on anniversary

President Xi Jinping called on Friday for strengthening innovation in science and technology and stepping up efforts to make breakthroughs in key core technologies.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark in a congratulatory letter delivered to an event in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

While extending his greetings to the academy staff, Xi commended the achievements that the academy has made over the past seven decades.

He said the academy has addressed a great many major scientific and technological problems that matter to the nation's overall development and made great headway in key core technologies through bold exploration and pioneering creativity.

The academy has witnessed the birth of plenty of first-class scientific outcomes and written a glorious chapter in the nation's technological innovation, Xi added.

Calling generations of academy scientists down-to-earth, dedicated and patriotic, Xi said that what they have done fully demonstrates the patriotism and noble character of the country's intellectuals.

Innovation is the primary driving force for development, Xi said, as he expressed the hope that the academy will continue to keep in mind their missions, seize strategic opportunities, strive for reforms and make new and greater contributions to building the nation into a world power in science and technology.

Premier Li Keqiang also made a written instruction on the 70th anniversary of the academy. While stressing the huge responsibility that the academy shoulders in the face of the world's new round of technological and industrial revolution, Li urged the academy to implement an innovation-driven development strategy to meet the needs of the country's long-term development.

Vice-Premier Liu He attended the event. Founded on Nov 1, 1949, the academy has secured a large number of major scientific achievements, making significant contributions to the country's technological progress, socioeconomic development and national security.