In a major policy address underscoring China's strategic priorities for technological advancement, Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued a clarion call to strengthen the nation's foundation in basic scientific research. The remarks were delivered on Thursday as Xi attended a high-level symposium in Shanghai focused on this critical pillar of innovation.
President Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, emphasized the need for greater effort and more concrete measures to enhance China's capacity for original innovation. This push aims to solidify the groundwork necessary for building comprehensive strength in science and technology.
The symposium signals a continued and intensifying focus within the Chinese mainland's national strategy on achieving self-reliance and leadership in core technologies. Basic research, which explores fundamental questions without immediate commercial application, is widely seen as the seedbed for future breakthroughs. A robust base in this area is considered essential for sustaining long-term economic competitiveness and addressing complex global challenges.
For global business professionals and investors monitoring Asian markets, this direction reaffirms the strategic sectors likely to receive sustained attention and resources. Academics and researchers will note the emphasis on original, frontier-pushing work as a key theme in the region's innovation landscape. For the global audience interested in Asia's development trajectory, the move highlights how major economies are positioning themselves in the ongoing global race for scientific and technological supremacy.
The call for enhanced basic research aligns with broader objectives to foster high-quality development and build a modernized economy. As these policies are implemented, their outcomes will be closely watched for their impact on industrial evolution, talent development, and international scientific collaboration.
Reference(s):
Xi stresses role of basic research in China's sci-tech strength
cgtn.com
