Xi calls for advancing Chinese modernization through sci-tech innovation

China

Xi calls for advancing Chinese modernization through sci-tech innovation

2026-07-08 20:10 Last Updated At：23:37

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for accelerated efforts to achieve high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and leverage sci-tech innovation to underpin and drive Chinese modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a meeting in Beijing that brought together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology.

At the meeting, Xi presented China's top sci-tech award for the year 2025 to Chen Liquan, a researcher at the Institute of Physics under the CAS and a CAE academician, and Ben De, a researcher at the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and also a CAE academician. After presenting the medals and certificates to the two scientists, Xi shook hands with them and extended his congratulations.

Xi and other Party and state leaders, together with the two top-award winners, presented certificates to representatives of recipients of other awards, including the State Natural Science Award, the State Technological Invention Award, and the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award.

Addressing the meeting, Xi said the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is a critical phase for tackling tough challenges in building up the country's strength in science and technology. Xi said the CPC Central Committee has given priority to sci-tech innovation in China's modernization drive, further advanced the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy, comprehensively deepened the reform of the sci-tech system since the 18th CPC National Congress, advancing China's sci-tech undertakings to make historic achievements and undergo historic transformations.

China is rapidly evolving from a participant and contributor in global sci-tech development into a pioneer and leader, becoming one of the fastest-rising countries in terms of innovation capability, said Xi.

Noting that a new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation is profoundly reshaping the people's living and working style, as well as the global development landscape, Xi called for stronger measures to address weaknesses in China's sci-tech development and ensure the full implementation of the CPC Central Committee's decisions and plans on sci-tech affairs.

He urged strengthened coordination in such aspects as strategic planning, policy measures, major tasks, scientific research forces, resource platforms and regional innovation, and the formation of institutional arrangements that highlight central-local alignment and cross-region coordination.

Stressing the need to better integrate sci-tech innovation with industrial innovation, Xi called for faster transformation of science and technology into real productive forces. He said sci-tech innovation should be more application-oriented, and greater efforts should be made to strengthen the national technology transfer system, promote application of independently developed technologies, better intellectual property protection, and develop a sci-tech financial system that better supports innovation.

Xi underscored the importance of fostering young talent in science and technology, calling for stronger support for researchers and more efforts to cultivate scientific passion, specialty and literacy, and laboratory skills among youth, so as to attract more young people with scientific potential to pursue the sci-tech undertakings.

He also called for improving the efficiency of investment in sci-tech innovation, deepening reform of the sci-tech evaluation system, creating a sound research environment, and strengthening sci-tech ethics and safety governance to ensure that science and technology develop for good, in a safe and controllable manner, and to benefit the people.

Noting that building a country strong in science and technology requires the joint efforts of the whole Party and society, Xi urged Party committees and governments at all levels to place sci-tech work high in their agenda, while calling on the CAS and the CAE to unite the country's sci-tech community in scaling new heights in the latest round of sci-tech revolution.

"Members of the two academies are the pride of the Party and the people. I hope you will cherish the honor and strive unremittingly, play a leading and exemplary role in exploring the frontiers of science and technology, undertaking major tasks, cultivating young talent, and practicing the spirit of scientists. The broad masses of scientific and technological workers are an important force in building a great modern socialist country. I hope all of you will carry forward the fine tradition of serving the nation and benefiting the people, and make new contributions to building China into a strong country in science and technology," Xi said.

Premier Li Qiang presided over the meeting.

Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang read out the awarding decision.

Other Party and state leaders Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Li Xi were present at the meeting.

The two top-award winners delivered speeches, respectively, on behalf of all the award-winners.

Prior to the meeting, Xi and other leaders met with and had group photos taken with the representatives of the award winners.

Mercedes-Benz CEO says firm pinning recovery on product offensive

The head of German auto giant Mercedes-Benz has stressed the automaker is looking to navigate through the current challenges facing the auto sector by investing in innovation, technology and new products, with the firm introducing a wave of new vehicle models.

Ola Kallenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, was speaking in an interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN), during which he acknowledged that intense competition amid a complex environment is squeezing profit margins, particularly in key markets such as China.

Kallenius listed several external pressures facing the company which come amid the wider changes taking place across the industry, and said automakers will simply have to adapt in order to remain competitive.

"I don't think that the intense competitive situation in China is going to go away any time soon, so there will be pressure here. Of course, the tariff system, especially for a global company like Mercedes-Benz, it has changed and we have to accept that now. And there are also other regulatory challenges or other things that's going on in the world," he said.

Kallenius said that while making efforts to manage disruptions in the short-term, the Mercedes-Benz Group is investing more in innovation, technology and products.

He noted that as part of this strategy the firm is unveiling 40 new models in the three-year period up to 2027 as it looks to build momentum to overcome the present difficulties.

"I think that 2026 for us is a year of execution, actually bringing models into the pipeline [and we aim to] build upon that in 2027 and 2028. So we take for this financial picture, we take like a mid-term view," he said.

"We have a solid foundation. Yes, it is a tougher business environment than it was maybe three years ago. But we can deal with it and we want to build ourselves into a stronger position over the next years into the mid-term carried by the product offensive," Kallenius said.