China has unveiled plans to develop frontier technologies as new drivers of economic growth, with experts predicting major scientific and technological breakthroughs over the next five years.
These ambitions are outlined in the newly released Explanation of the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, made public on Tuesday.
The recommendations stress the need to promote quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen energy and nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, and 6G mobile communication as new drivers of economic growth.
"After the development achieved under the 14th Five-Year Plan, our science and technology has made tremendous progress. In several key areas, we are running neck-and-neck with the United States, and in some, we may surpass it. In AI, we have developed deep-learning algorithms and software models. We have Huawei and domestic chipmakers supplying servers, and we have implemented data-sharing measures under the 'Twenty Data Measures'. China now possesses the computing power, algorithms, and data platforms. In the next five years, China has the potential to make significant strides in AR+ technologies. Our strategy focuses on expanding and deepening the application scenarios of AR+, making it a driving force. The development of AI over the next five years will be a major global contest, and China has strong prospects for success," said Zhu Min, a member of the Senior Expert Advisory Committee of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.
Zhu also pointed to quantum computing as a potential game-changer for China’s tech future.
"This time, we discussed many areas, for example, quantum computing. Quantum computing is so important because it is the core of future computing. If it becomes universal, many existing technologies will be fundamentally transformed. That's why we are concentrating resources and brainpower on this area. Breakthroughs are possible and crucial. No matter what, the next five years will be a period of major scientific and technological breakthroughs and high-speed development for China," he said.
China targets major sci-tech breakthroughs over next five years
China targets major sci-tech breakthroughs over next five years
