Bloomberg:

The Fifth Plenary Session identifies self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology as being the strategic support to China's national development, and stresses that China will uphold the central role of innovation in its modernization drive. What specific measures will be adopted to achieve this self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology and promote innovation?

Xu Lin:

Mr. Wang Zhigang will answer the question.

Wang Zhigang:

I thank the reporter from Bloomberg for this question. The Fifth Plenary Session stresses that China will uphold the central role of innovation in its modernization drive and identifies self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology as being the strategic support to China's national development. We know that scientific and technological innovation has always played an important role in national development and human progress, and its role is becoming increasingly prominent and important. As China enters a new stage of development, the country needs new development, and needs to foster a new development paradigm. Therefore, the Fifth Plenary Session put forward the aforementioned Proposals, placing self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology at the top of the all planned tasks, and making special arrangements. It is the first time that the CPC has done so in the history of formulating a five-year plan. It is also a strategic arrangement made by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in keeping abreast of the trend of world development, keeping in mind the current situation and adopting a long-term perspective.

Looking back, the CPC Central Committee came up with the innovation-driven development strategy at the 18th CPC National Congress, and put forward taking innovation as the primary driving force for development at the 19th CPC National Congress. It has been continuously carrying forward and evolving its strategies, guidelines, plans and arrangements for scientific and technological innovation. The important positioning and arrangements regarding scientific and technological innovation put forward at the Fifth Plenary Session are based on the constant pursuit of seeking truth from facts and the long-term theoretical innovation and practices of the CPC. The various moves have fully grasped the trend of global scientific and technological development, and adhered to the path of independent innovation with Chinese characteristics. They also fit the characteristics and tasks of scientific and technological innovation in the country in the new era. In fundamental respects, we need to make full use of scientific and technological innovation, and ensure it plays its key role in the great changes unseen in a century and use it to support and guide the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Faced with these changes in China and worldwide, we need to apply a new development philosophy, promote high-quality development and foster a new development paradigm. More than ever, we need solutions in our approach to scientific and technological innovation, and depending on innovation as the primary driving force. Only by relying on scientific and technological innovation, can we develop opportunities amid crises, open up new areas amid change, constantly expand new space for development, and seek to shape new advantages for growth. That is why scientific and technological innovation is such an important feature of the new development paradigm.

China's scientific and technological strength is now moving from seeking accumulation in quantitative terms to taking great leaps forward in quality, from individual breakthroughs to achieving systematic progress, laying a solid foundation for economic growth, and improvement of livelihood and national security. Looking ahead, we should have more confidence in innovation, and seize opportunities in the new technological and industrial revolution. Following the principle that the scientific and technological development must target the frontiers of global science, serve the economic battlefield, strive to fulfill the significant needs of our country and benefit people's lives and health, we should adhere to both scientific and technological innovation and institutional innovation, cultivate scientific and technological strength, and improve our systematic capacity in scientific and technological research and emergency research. We need to make overall arrangements for achieving significant breakthroughs in basic research and key and core technologies, and constructing a systematic, sound and efficient national scientific and technological innovation system. We also need to motivate scientific and technological personnel and innovators. In this way, we seek to move faster on the new path of innovative development featuring excellent talents, cutting-edge technologies, outstanding industries and a strong economy and nation, and move faster to become one of the leading innovation-oriented countries and a scientific and technological power in the world.

You mentioned self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology. It can be traced to the same originating source as self-reliance and independent innovation we have been emphasizing. Self-reliance and self-strengthening do not contradict with openness and cooperation; instead, they form a dialectical unity. Openness and cooperation are integral to the path of independent innovation with Chinese characteristics. Self-reliance and self-strengthening are the prerequisite and foundation for opening up and cooperation on the basis of equal treatment and mutual respect. At the same time, China's scientific and technological innovation has never been, and will never be, conducted behind closed doors. Over the past 40 plus years of reform and opening up, openness, cooperation, exchanges and mutual learning have played an important role in promoting China's scientific and technological innovation. We have always emphasized pursuit of scientific and technological innovation with a global vision, and actively integrated ourselves into the global innovation network. Now, China's scientific and technological development and innovation is becoming increasingly inseparable from the rest of the world, and the world is also becoming increasingly in need of China in achieving scientific and technological progress. On the one hand, we need to improve our ability of independent innovation and run our own affairs well, because key and core technologies cannot be acquired or purchased. On the other hand, we hope to learn more of the advanced experience from the rest of the world, and share more of China's scientific and technological achievements and contribute more Chinese wisdom to tackle global challenges.

Looking forward, China will make greater strides in opening up and cooperation in science and technology. We are ready to carry out dialogue and exchanges with other countries in regard to science and technology policies, development plans, research ethics, and fields of common concern in science and technology as well as innovation. In regard to opening up and cooperation, we will seek common ground while reserving differences, and strive to form an increased consensus on international science and technology governance. At the same time, we will focus on global issues such as climate change, energy and resources, and public health, set up a scientific research fund to support joint research with countries across the world. We will further improve the legal and policy environment for scientific and technological innovation in China, strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights, and provide equal opportunities and convenient conditions for overseas talents to work and start businesses in China, striving to make China a favored destination for global innovators and entrepreneurs. Thank you.

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