China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) directly under the central government raised their basic research spending from 56.5 billion yuan (about 8.29 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021 to 102.4 billion yuan in 2025, with its share in total research and development investment climbing from 6 percent to 9.4 percent, according to the country's state-owned assets supervision authority.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), central SOEs undertook 1,783 national-level basic research projects with total funding of 35.3 billion yuan. Additionally, 34 central SOEs established joint funds with the National Natural Science Foundation totaling over 12 billion yuan, an official of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council said when introducing China's achievements in this regard.
To foster closer collaboration across industry, academia, and research, central SOEs have taken the lead in building 91 national key laboratories and 66 national defense science and technology key laboratories. They have also set up eight industrial common technology research institutes.
Furthermore, 25 central SOEs have collaborated with 10 national laboratories on 183 scientific research tasks, jointly establishing a number of collaborative R and D institutions in areas such as new power systems, artificial intelligence and quantum communication. Meanwhile, 58 of them have developed 97 hubs designated as sources of original technologies.
Looking ahead, Zhang Yuzhuo, head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, highlighted the strategic goals for the coming years.
"By 2030, China's central SOEs will establish a basic research system with clear positioning, a rational layout, and close integration of industry, academia, and research. Investment in basic research will double compared with 2025 levels, accounting for 15 percent of the total. We aim to build globally influential sources of original technologies in 10 fields, including new power systems, making central SOEs a vital force in China's basic research endeavors," Zhang said.
Chinese central SOEs' basic research investment tops 100 bln yuan in 2025
The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceflight mission returned safely to Earth on Friday after completing their planned tasks aboard the Tiangong space station.
The return capsule of the Shenzhou-22 spaceship, carrying Shenzhou-21 astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 20:11 Beijing Time (1211 GMT), according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The returned astronauts were reported to be in good physical condition after landing, according to staff on site.
Zhang Lu was the first to exit the return capsule after it touched down on Earth.
"I'm thrilled to once again return to the embrace of our motherland. The Shenzhou-21 crew's seven-month stay in orbit would not have been possible without the care of our families and comrades, the support of leaders at all levels and all colleagues involved in the project, and above all, the backing of our country and our people. One sentence sums up my thoughts on my second space mission: 'It takes a whole team's devotion to make one person's voyage into the sea of stars,' " Zhang said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) shortly after he was carried out of the return capsule.
"I also have a gift to share with everyone. On the day of the Shenzhou-21 launch, the ground support team gave us an apple, wishing us a safe and smooth mission. Our safe return is their greatest wish. Tomorrow is May 30, the National Science and Technology Workers' Day. So when we left the space station, we specifically brought back an apple. We want to give it to all science and technology workers, and say 'thank you for your hard work'. At the same time, I wish our space industry continued prosperity, and every mission safe and smooth," he said.
"Returning to Earth and to the embrace of our motherland, I feel extremely secure and proud. Being entrusted with such a significant responsibility in my first space mission is a great honor. It is the trust of my country, the guidance of my predecessors, and the teamwork of the entire crew that enabled me to successfully complete the mission. This mission has taught me that the most beautiful posture of youth is to march out for the country. I will turn this space experience into the driving force for my continued progress, and continue to fight and strive for the manned space program," said crew member Wu Fei.
"From the ground laboratory to China's space station, it is our great motherland that has enabled me to achieve a perfect integration of my scientific ideals and spaceflight dreams. With the support of the entire project team, the assistance of researchers and scientists, and the care of so many people, our crew has worked as one and successfully completed all assigned scientific projects, including the first successful in-orbit breeding of small mammals, the growing of a thriving space vegetable garden with an even wider varieties, and the collection of valuable data from projects such as in-situ electrochemical and optical studies on lithium-ion batteries," said Zhang Hongzhang, who was the last of the astronauts to exit the spacecraft.
"Looking at Earth from space, I deeply felt that humanity is an indivisible community with a shared future. Now that I am back on Earth and have returned to my motherland, I feel an immense sense of security and warmth. Going forward, I will continue to build on these achievements and contribute to making China a strong power in space, science and technology," he said.
The returned crew members will now head to Beijing by plane and enter a quarantined recovery period, during which they will undergo comprehensive medical examinations and health assessments and start their recuperation process.
Prior to their return, the astronauts completed all planned tasks and handed over the space station to their three colleagues of the Shenzhou-23 mission who boarded the space station on May 25.
The crew's planned stay in-orbit was extended by approximately one month to further verify the technologies regarding the long-term stay of astronauts in orbit and fully use the supplies delivered by the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft in an emergency launch.
The Shenzhou-21 crew's original spaceship, which sent them into space on Oct 31 last year, was previously returned to Earth carrying the astronauts of the preceding Shenzhou-20 mission after tiny cracks were found in the viewport window of the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft's return capsule. That spacecraft was later safely brought back to Earth.
Shenzhou-21 crew return to Earth after successful seven-month mission in space
