China is stepping up efforts to solidify the role of enterprises as a core driver of innovation, and enhance financial support for small and medium-sized scientific-technological enterprises, Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun said in an interview aired on Sunday.
In the interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Yin outlined the ministry's roadmap for the opening year of the country's 15th Five-Year Plan for national socioeconomic development in the 2026-2030 period.
"We will strengthen the principal status of enterprises in technological innovation decision-making. We'll support state-owned and private enterprises in deeply engaging in national sci-tech innovation decision-making, with more attention given to enterprise opinions in the formulation of major strategies, major plans, and major policies. We will also strengthen the principal status of enterprises in organizing scientific-technological research. More efforts will be made to support enterprises in taking on or participating in more national major scientific research tasks, establish mechanisms for enterprise projects to be elevated to national projects, support leading sci-tech enterprises in building innovation consortia with various key players in innovation, such as universities, research institutes, and SMEs, and build sci-tech innovation platforms and bases to promote integrated innovation across the upstream and downstream industrial chain," Yin said.
In May 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology, together with six other competent central government agencies, rolled out 15 concrete measures to promote financial services for sci-tech innovation, to improve the country's self-reliance and strength in science and technology.
In December last year, the national venture capital guidance fund was launched as part of efforts to mobilize more patient capital for innovative and future industries.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to further refine a sci-tech finance system tailored to innovation needs, scale up financing support for small and medium-sized sci-tech firms, and streamline channels for converting scientific and technological research achievements into applicable know-hows, according to Yin.
"We will keep improving the implementation mechanisms for preferential tax policies on scientific and technological innovation, raise the additional tax deductions for enterprises' research and development expenses, and lead enterprises to increase their research and development investment. We will also strengthen enterprises' principal status in practical application of scientific-technological research achievements, enhance their capacity to absorb and apply scientific-technological research achievements, accelerate efficient application of major sci-tech research achievements, and promote incubation and cultivation of sci-tech SMEs. The Ministry of Science and Technology will work together with other competent authorities to keep strengthening coordination and implementation of policies, and providing sustained and strong policy support for enterprises' scientific-technological innovation," said the minister.
China to enhance enterprises' role as core driver of innovation: minister
Springtime flower-viewing tours are emerging as a major attraction across China ahead of this year's Qingming Festival, with cities and rural destinations rolling out cultural performances, interactive travel services and countryside experiences to lure visitors and boost the tourism economy.
Falling on April 5 this year, the Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tributes to ancestors. The three-day holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens to enjoy outdoor activities and sightseeing in pleasant springtime temperatures.
In north China's Tianjin Municipality, both locals and tourists from other parts of the country have gathered for a begonia flower festival, running from Saturday to April 12, which features 123 performances throughout the event.
At the city's well-known Wudadao historical urban area, or the Five Great Avenues, begonia blossoms are now in full bloom, while newly launched sightseeing carriages have added a fresh highlight, bringing in a larger influx of visitors ahead of the holiday.
To enhance the festive atmosphere, nearly 200 local businesses have decorated their storefronts in a festival theme.
Tianjin has also introduced new efforts to integrate culture, tourism and commerce. A locally developed mini-program as well as multiple interactive games combine festival schedules, guided maps, recommended routes and discount coupons, allowing tourists to access services and unlock surprises during their visits.
During last year's three-day Qingming holiday, the festival helped major scenic spots and commercial areas in the city's Heping District receive more than 3 million visits, generating over 800 million yuan (about 116 million U.S. dollars) in combined tourism-related revenue.
This year, local authorities expect both visitor numbers and overall revenue to rise even further.
Similar momentum is also being seen in central China's Hunan Province. In Xiangfeng Village in Changsha City, rapeseed flowers are now in full bloom, drawing crowds of holiday travelers and turning the village into a popular flower-viewing destination on the outskirts of the provincial capital ahead of Qingming.
The village has developed more than 10 featured courtyard-style businesses, including teahouses, eco-farms, yoga courses and rural art centers.
These venues cover a wide range of services such as dining, team-building, wellness, art education and camping, helping build a diversified rural industry that combines agricultural tourism, wellness tourism and commercial tourism.
In the first quarter of this year alone, the village received about 120,000 tourist visits, generating 4.8 million yuan (around 698,000 U.S. dollars) in tourism income.
The growing courtyard economy has helped turn natural scenery into real economic gain, creating jobs for villagers and providing them with a steady increase in income.
In east China's Anhui Province, spring blossoms are also bringing a boost to rural tourism.
On the shores of Jianshan Lake in Chaohu, Hefei City, blooming peach flowers and rapeseed flowers have attracted large numbers of tourists in recent days.
Jianshan Lake, a reservoir covering over 50 hectares, has also become a hub for both professional and recreational water activities.
While trained athletes practice motorboat events on the lake, ordinary visitors can also enjoy boat rides and go-kart-style watercraft experiences.
The area has further enriched its tourism offerings with camping zones, a pet-themed park and fruit-picking gardens, providing a wider range of activities for holiday travelers.
The integrated development of agriculture, culture and tourism has also created new employment opportunities for local residents, enabling more villagers to find jobs closer to home and improve their incomes as the spring tourism season gains pace.
Tourism, culture, commerce blend across China during Qingming Festival holiday
