China is placing strong emphasis on future industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and humanoid robotics, with an aim of delivering wider benefits to more people around the world, Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), said in Beijing on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the opening of the NPC's annual session scheduled for Thursday, Lou noted that China's humanoid industry achieved a dual leap in technological breakthrough and scenario-based application last year.
He said that the growing technological capacity and application scenarios of humanoids are presenting the people a future of infinite possibilities.
"Humanoid robots are designed to be a coexisting twin emulating the sophisticated human body. They represent the integration of multiple frontier technologies such as AI, high-end manufacturing and new materials. AI depends on intelligent computing, high-speed data transmission and massive data storage capacity, as well as a technology ecosystem where intelligent chips, algorithm models and big data are working as a collaborative technological system. The perception, control and actuation of humanoids involve advanced technologies like embodied intelligence, electronics and electric motors, additive manufacturing and composite materials. These multi-domain, cross-discipline theories and technologies are compounding one another and inspiring innovation," Lou said.
"To make robots feel, think, decide, and act like humans do, the world still has to work together on the relevant scientific theories and technologies. Meanwhile, the popularization and extensive application of humanoids will give rise to new questions on ethics, morality, and social governance, and the answers to them will have to be found together by all of us," he emphasized.
The spokesman called for an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory global environment for sci-tech development, while emphasizing the importance of sci-tech self-reliance.
"In recent years, China has accelerated the development of its AI industry. Computing power infrastructure is expanding and getting more sophisticated, and high-quality data sets are emerging more quickly. Chinese AI models are leading the way in the open-source innovation ecology. The reality is that the key to sci-tech innovation and development lies in having homegrown, risk-controllable core technologies. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), we will strengthen research on original innovation and critical core technologies, speed up the integration of sci-tech innovation and industrial innovation, and drive decisive breakthroughs in critical core technologies across entire chains in key fields. Sci-tech innovation cannot be separated from an open, inclusive and mutually beneficial global environment. We are ready to work with all parties to foster an open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory environment for the development of science and technology and allow the results of sci-tech innovation to benefit more countries and more people," he said.
China to accelerate sci-tech innovation to bring wider benefits to humanity: spokesman
