China’s scientific and technological advances are benefiting humanity.China has never been so close to the people around the world, not only sharing its own development experience, but also contributing Chinese solutions and wisdom.

A hybrid rice seed can resolve the plight of food in famine-stricken areas.

A high-speed rail line connecting north and south can increase the speed of economic growth.

A round of technological iteration of new energy industry can accelerate the pace of green low-carbon transformation.

China cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world, nor can the world as a whole maintain prosperity without China. China will join hands with the world to promote innovation, only to create a better furture for humanity.

At the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out that China must regard science and technology as the primary productive force, implement the innovation-driven development strategy, expand science and technology exchanges and cooperation with other countries, cultivate an internationalized environment for research, and create an open and globally-competitive innovation ecosystem.

The Chinese government has always attached great importance to science, technology and innovation. We have grown stronger in basic research and original innovation, and made breakthroughs in some core technologies in key fields. We have witnessed major successes on multiple fronts, including manned spaceflight, lunar and Martian exploration, deep sea and deep earth probes, supercomputers, satellite navigation, quantum information, nuclear power technology, new energy technology, airliner manufacturing, and biomedicine.

China’s total R&D expenditure in 2023 exceeded 3.3 trillion yuan (about $458.5 billion), accounting for 2.64% of GDP, and ranking the second in the world.

China ranked 12th place on the Global Innovation Index 2023 released by WIPO, topping developing countries.

The past 40-plus years of reform and opening-up in China shows that the world increasingly needs China for scientific and technological advances. Meanwhile, China cannot do without the world in developing its scientific and technological strength.

The Chinese government has been committed to open cooperation in science and technology, and China’s door will open even wider.

China has established cooperative scientific and technological ties with over 160 countries, signed intergovernmental science and technology cooperation agreements with 118 countries and regions, and participated in over 200 international organizations and multilateral mechanisms.

We have participated international big science programs and projects including International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and Square Kilometer Array (SKA). We have taken the lead in initiating international mega-science programs and projects including Deep-time Digital Earth (DDE) and Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions (ONCE) to support joint research by scientists across the world to address global challenges.

We have always pursued mutual benefit and win-win results in practical intergovernmental cooperation.

Guided by high-level mechanisms such as the innovation dialogue and science and technology partnership program, we have leveraged the joint committee on intergovernmental science and technology cooperation to facilitate diversified cooperation between Chinese and foreign research institutes, universities and enterprises, including people-to-people exchanges, joint research, co-development of research platforms, science park cooperation, and technology transfer.

We aim for global progress in science and technology and common development of all countries.

We have given full play to the leading and supporting role of science, technology and innovation in Belt and Road cooperation and global development, successfully holding the first Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange and the first Belt and Road Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation.

We have implemented the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, with more than 50 Belt and Road joint labs under construction, and over 3,500 young foreign scientists for research visit to China for at least half a year. In addition, over 15,000 trainees from various countries have been trained through the International Training Program. We initiated 4 new Belt and Road cooperation programs on science, technology and innovation, including Sustainable Development Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Spatial Information Science and Technology, and Poverty Alleviation through Science and Technology.

With an innovation-driven approach, we have made concrete actions to promote international development cooperation in the new era.

We have organized the International Cooperation Action on Science Response to COVID-19, working with research institutes, universities and enterprises from more than 20 countries under bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks.

We have conducted joint research on variants, vaccines, drugs, testing methods and traditional Chinese medicines, providing continuous support for global pandemic response, which speaks volumes about China’s commitment as a responsible major country.

At the first Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange, China proposed the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative, advocating an open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory environment for international science and technology cooperation, with an aim to work together for the building of a global science and technology community.

Science knows no border, and innovation has no limits.

Looking forward, China will continue to pursue an open, inclusive and mutually-beneficial strategy for international science and technology cooperation, implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, promote the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative, expand international science and technology exchanges and cooperation, make its scientific and technological contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind, and work with all other countries for a better home for mankind.