Xi calls for advancing sci-tech innovation
Acceleration of self-reliance, focus on frontier fields emphasized
During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, China's total social investment in research and development maintained an average annual growth rate of 10 percent, with R&D intensity reaching 2.8 percent in 2025, exceeding the average level of countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for the first time.
This has not come easily and fully reflects the firm resolve of the Party and the country to develop science and technology, Xi said. At the same time, he noted that in practice, problems such as waste in research funding and inefficient or repetitive sci-tech investment still exist to varying degrees.
Xi stressed the need to make sci-tech innovation investment more effective, ensuring that increased investment is matched by greater efficiency.
Xi said China should deepen reform of sci-tech evaluation and make good use of it as a guiding tool for scientific research and innovation.
He also said China should strengthen sci-tech ethics and security governance, and promote the development of science and technology in a way that is beneficial, safe and controllable, so that it better serves the people.
At the meeting, Xi presented China's top sci-tech award for 2025 to Chen Liquan, a pioneer in China's lithium battery sector, and Ben De, a radar technology expert.
Wednesday's meeting honored 258 projects and 11 scientific and technological experts. In addition, the China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award for the year 2025 was conferred on nine foreign experts.
mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn
