Xi stresses importance of sci-tech in advancing Chinese modernization

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has emphasized that science and technology should be at the forefront in advancing Chinese modernization.

Xi made the remarks during his visit to the Hefei Binhu Science City in east China's Anhui Province on Thursday afternoon.

Xi examined an array of major scientific and technological innovations attained by Anhui in recent years, and exchanged views with researchers and corporate leaders.

Noting that scientific and technological innovation is an essential path to modernization, Xi said the CPC Central Committee highly regards scientists and technologists and cherishes them immensely.

He encouraged them to take bold steps, continue working hard, and contribute more ingenuity and expertise to achieve high-level self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology.

The U.S. dollar weakened in late trading on Friday.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, dropped 0.19 percent to 97.608 at 15:00 (2000 GMT).

In late New York trading, the euro climbed to 1.1819 dollars from 1.1786 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound added to 1.3475 dollars from 1.3470 dollars in the previous session.

The U.S. dollar bought 155.95 Japanese yen, lower than 156.34 Japanese yen of the previous session. The U.S. dollar decreased to 0.7679 Swiss francs from 0.7747 Swiss francs, and it fell to 1.3630 Canadian dollars from 1.3687 Canadian dollars. The U.S. dollar was down to 9.0200 Swedish kronor from 9.0631 Swedish kronor.