China's mega-science facility construction fuels its global innovation leadership

China's expanding network of advanced scientific facilities is propelling breakthroughs in research and industrial applications, reinforcing the nation's position as a global innovation leader.

Recent months have seen accelerated progress in major projects nationwide. In south China's Guangzhou City, construction has commenced on two major scientific facilities, the Cold Spring Ecosystem Research Facility and the Human Cell Lineage Facility.

Meanwhile in Beijing, several cutting-edge research installations, including the Comprehensive Extreme Condition Experiment Facility and the Meridian Project (Phase II), have recently passed national acceptance inspections. Of the 37 planned science facilities at the Huairou Science City, 16 have now opened their doors to international researchers.

A standout development is Asia's first fourth-generation High Energy Photon Source (HEPS) in Beijing, China's flagship synchrotron radiation facility, which has officially launched its joint commissioning phase, as part of the final construction stage.

This "super X-ray machine", capable of generating light 1 trillion times brighter than sunlight, will provide crucial support for cutting-edge research in advanced materials, aerospace, biomedicine and other fields.

"The facility achieves nanometer-level spatial resolution and picosecond-level temporal resolution. The experimental results already demonstrate the outstanding performance characteristics of this fourth-generation light source," said Pan Weimin, the project's chief director.

China's scientific infrastructure now includes over 60 major facilities among 77 planned national projects, with several achieving world-class status.

The progress spans diverse fields, from the agricultural "Shennong Facility" for crop phenomics research, to final adjustments of the high-efficiency and low-carbon gas turbine test facility, to upgrades at the 4,410-meter-high Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) on the Tibetan Plateau.

These facilities are yielding tangible results. Hefei's Steady High Magnetic Field Facility (SHMFF) has supported more than 3,800 research projects, contributing to breakthroughs in superconductors and pharmaceuticals.

In Guangdong Province, the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) has achieved domestically produced photomultipliers with world-leading efficiency, while the China Spallation Neutron Source in Dongguan City provides crucial data for aviation and energy technologies.

China has moved up one spot to 11th place in the ranking of the world's most innovative economies, making it one of the fastest risers over the past decade, according to the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

With continued strategic investment in research infrastructure, China is systematically transforming scientific ambition into technological leadership and industrial advancement.

China's mega-science facility construction fuels its global innovation leadership

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that the red line on protecting civilians in conflicts must not be crossed.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Abdullah briefed Wang on the regional situation and the UAE's position, saying the country is not a party to the war, has not participated in the current conflict, and should not be subjected to illegal attacks.

He expressed appreciation for China's consistent objective and impartial stance, adding that the UAE expects China to continue to play an active and important role in the current grave circumstances to prevent further escalation of regional tensions.

The UAE will continue to take measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in the country, Abdullah said.

For his part, Wang reiterated China's principled position on the current situation in Iran, noting that the spillover of war serves no one's interests and that the people of the region would be the ones to suffer.

He stressed that non-military targets related to energy, economy and people's livelihoods should not be attacked, and that the security of shipping routes must be safeguarded.

Wang noted that the UAE had worked for peace even before the conflict broke out, and that a recent foreign ministers' meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way to overcome the current crisis and safeguard regional security, which China appreciates.

China backs the UAE's legitimate demands to safeguard its national security and supports countries in the region in their continued efforts to resolve disputes through diplomatic means, Wang said.

China will not give up hope for peace and will continue to play a constructive role, Wang said, adding that China will send its special envoy on the Middle East issue to the region to conduct mediation efforts to help bring the region back to peace and stability.

Wang also expressed hope that the UAE will continue to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country.

Chinese FM says red line on protecting civilians in conflict must not be crossed