Xi sets targets for China's innovation

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Priorities for innovation

Speaking at the event, the president listed five priorities for innovation.

Stressing the priority of developing cutting-edge science and technology, Xi said China should strive to take a leading role in S&T research.

To this end, the country should have a global vision, establish development strategies in a timely manner, be confident in innovation, and be known for original theories and discoveries, he said.

Xi also called for efforts on launching key projects to create a world-class research network.

"Currently, the state needs the strategic support of science and technology more urgently than ever before," said the president.

The CPC Central Committee has outlined the nation's long-term scientific and technological strategies by the year 2030, and decided to roll out a large number of S&T projects, he noted.

He encouraged scientists and technicians to respond to the country's major strategic demands, strive to advance research into core technologies and move up to the world's S&T "high ground."

To be the world's major S&T power, the state will have to champion first-class institutes, research-oriented universities and innovation-oriented enterprises. This will also support the authoring of a substantial amount of original research, said Xi.

Moreover, the president stressed the role that scientific research plays to bolster overall economic and social development.

In the process of advancing the supply-side structural reform and implementing the tasks of cutting overcapacity and excess inventory, de-leveraging, reducing costs and addressing points of weakness, more advances in innovation are needed, Xi said.

Public S&T services should be increased, so that the people can enjoy a more livable environment, better health care and safer food and medicine, he added.

Reforming science management and operation mechanism was another priority the president listed in his speech.

He stressed that the government will try to form an energetic science management and operation mechanism through deepening reform and innovation, while continuing to better allocate resources and evaluate research findings.

Xi said the country will provide bigger support for tech companies, especially small and medium firms, and reorganize research institutes and universities.

The country also plans to create a few cities or regional centers that are attractive to outstanding innovation industries.

"Our biggest advantage is that we, as a socialist country, can pool resources in a major mission," the president said.

Xi also stressed the establishment of a rich talent pool of scientists with global vision, and entrepreneurs and technicians good at innovation.

He promised to respect the creativity of scientists and support free and bold scientific exploration.

"Scientists should be allowed to freely explore and test the bold hypotheses they put forward," Xi said.

He promised to grant leading scientists more power and liberty to decide upon the direction of their research, and greater management of research funds and resources.

The government's duty is to draw up strategies and work out plans, and enact policies and offer services, he said.

Public scienific literacy

It is also important to raise the scientific literacy of the whole of society to release the creativity of 1.3 billion Chinese, Xi said.

He urged CAS and CAE academicians to contribute their wisdom when the country is making major and long-term policies on science and technology and to set example for younger scientists.

The CAS and CAE should also play a better role as the country's premier S&T establishments, leading other institutions in the right direction.

In addition, the president urged the CAST to better serve scientists and help raise people's scientific literacy.

Responses to Xi's remarks

Zhou Jinfeng, a representative to the CAST national congress, said after the event, that "the conference is significant because we are at the critical juncture of realizing the 'two centenary goals', and S&T innovation is crucial to a stronger China."

The "two centenary goals" are doubling 2010 GDP and per capita income and building of a moderately prosperous society by 2020; as well as the aim to build a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious by the middle of this century.

Chen Saijuan, a member of the CAE, said Xi voiced the concerns of scientific researchers, when he said that research grants and the S&T management regime must serve scientists.

"I believe, under the guidance of the "two centenary goals", China will gradually overcome hurdles it faces and become a world power in science and technology," said Chen.

Zhang Jinsheng, deputy head of the management committee of the Tsinghua University science park, was encouraged by Xi's saying that enterprises should play major roles in innovation decision-making, research and development, and translation of lab results into production.

"General secretary Xi's remarks sent another positive signal for promoting the country's innovation system," Zhang said.

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