Beijing, January 14 (Xinhua) -- In 2024, China continued to expand international cooperation in science and technology, signing 118 intergovernmental agreements on sci-tech cooperation and setting up more than 70 “Belt and Road” joint laboratories. International big science research plans and projects also advanced steadily.
These updates were disclosed at a national conference on science and technology held on January 14.
According to the briefing, China has taken solid steps in building up its strengths in science and technology. Its national R&D expenditure has remained the second-highest in the world, while the number of R&D personnel and the volume of PCT international patent applications have ranked first globally for several consecutive years. Notable achievements have been made in integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, quantum information, and other cutting-edge fields. Sci-tech innovation is playing an increasingly vital role in supporting and driving economic and social development, helping China climb to 11th in the Global Innovation Index.
Meanwhile, China continues to improve its environment for opening up and innovation, marked by the release of the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative, the advancement of the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, and the launch of the fourth batch of “Belt and Road” joint laboratories. The international big science research plans Deep-time Digital Earth (DDE) and Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions (ONCE), initiated by the Chinese scientists, now include 27 and 58 international members, respectively. China has also delivered core components for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and the first batch of in-kind contributions for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
The year 2025 is crucial for fully implementing the guiding principles of the national sci-tech conference and accelerating efforts to build up China’s strength in science and technology.
China will intensify its planning and research efforts in science and technology, launch a new round of structural sci-tech reform, and focus on enhancing its systematic innovation capacity. In 2025, main tasks in science and technology include the following :
First, establish a mechanism to advance the building of China’s strength in science and technology. This includes formulating the national plan for sci-tech innovation under the 15th Five-Year period and related subject-specific plans, accelerating the implementation of major national sci-tech projects, andbolstering strength in strategic science and technology, and advancing basic research. Second, deepen the integration of sci-tech innovation with industrial innovation by fostering leading sci-tech enterprises, empowering key industries through science and technology, developing a financial system that supports sci-tech innovation, and refining the systems for translating sci-tech achievements into applications. Third, advance structural sci-tech reform in the new period. Efforts will be made to drive integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, build various sci-tech innovation platforms, and improve regional innovation ecosystems. Finally, expand openness and global cooperation. China will further boost Belt and Road cooperation in sci-tech innovation and improve the environment for openness and innovation.
