A growing number of black-necked cranes have returned to a nature reserve in southwest China's Guizhou Province to spend the winter, thanks to the ongoing ecological protection efforts.
The Caohai National Nature Reserve in Guizhou had recorded more than 2,400 overwinter black-necked cranes as of Monday, with the number steadily increasing compared to the same period in previous years, according to the reserve's management committee.
Meanwhile, this migration transfer station had also observed about 34,000 other birds, including grey cranes, bar-headed geese, and bone-headed chickens.
To ensure the safe wintering of migratory birds, the reserve has established a grid-based patrol system to conduct safety inspections and supervision throughout the area.
"I'm in charge of the largest among the seven nocturnal habitats, which is also the site with the largest number of black-necked cranes. During the same period last year, there were about 800 black-necked cranes. This year, the number has increased to around 1,100," said Ma Mindian, a ranger.
The significant growth in the population of endangered birds such as black-necked cranes is attributed to the reserve's continuous efforts to protect the wetland ecosystem. Caohai currently hosts 252 bird species.
Thousands of black-necked cranes return to southwest China's nature reserve for winter
China saw fruitful scientific and technological innovation achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2020-2025) for national socioeconomic development, effectively supporting the country's high-quality development, said Wang Zhenzhang, former Chinese Minister of Science and Technology, on Saturday.
Wang, also a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, made the statement at a group interview on the sidelines of the ongoing 4th annual session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, where he elaborated on China's sci-tech innovation achievements in the 2021-2025 period.
"During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's sci-tech innovation yielded a large number of outstanding achievements. For example, in that period of time, China's high-speed train met the target of running at a maximum speed of 450 kilometers per hour, making people's travel faster and more convenient. Additionally, in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), embodied intelligence and multimodal AI assistants, there have been many highlights," Wang said.
In the field of quantum technology, China has achieved a series of new breakthroughs in quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum measurement, while previous sci-tech innovations in the sector of new energy have been transformed into emerging and leading industries, he said.
During 2021-2025 period, the number of researchers in China kept expanding, with improving professional capabilities. In addition to effectively addressing scientific questions and overcoming technical challenges, they also succeeding in precisely grasping the direction and priorities of the sci-tech frontiers, he said.
He specifically outlined the role that China's sci-tech enterprises played in this course.
"During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's sci-tech enterprises strengthened their capabilities in technological innovation and results application. In that period of time, they also emerged as a powerful new force in basic research," Wang said.
In those five years, China also made significant progress in R&D investment and improvement of the research ecosystem. This includes substantial advancements in policies and laws related to this sector, as well social consensus on building sci-tech strength, he said.
"In the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), or in a future period of time, achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology remains a top priority in our efforts for realizing [Chinese] modernization. At the same time, we need to enhance opening up and cooperation in science and technology, seeking high-quality development through science and technology, generate new quality productive forces through science and technology, and pursue sustainable development and competitiveness through technological achievements," Wang said.
The 4th annual session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee opened in Beijing on Wednesday and will run through March 11.
China sees fruitful sci-tech innovation achievements in 2021-2025: CPPCC member
