SCIO briefing on development of industry and information technology
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 3, 2021
New York Times:
Looking over the next five years, as you look for technological self-sufficiency, how will you measure that? What will be your benchmarks? Will it be, for example, market share? Will it be trade balance in these sectors? How will you choose the measures? Thank you.
Xiao Yaqing:
Thank you for your question. Your question is a rather general one, so I will try to answer that from the perspective of industry and information technology. When it comes to self-reliance in science and technology, first of all, we make our goals according to the needs of China's industry and information technology development. For instance, China boasts the largest industry and information technology market, and has been the largest goods trading country for many years, with imported products constantly increasing. I came across a figure a few days ago. China imported the first ten Boeing 707 aircraft after President Nixon visited China in 1972; we imported the one hundredth airplane in about 1986; and the one thousandth Boeing airplane in 2013. Therefore, our need is large. Technological self-reliance means we should have the technology and ability to produce a lot of things by ourselves.
Second, people's increasing need for industry and information technological products has pushed forward our development. For example, 5G technology, high-speed railway, household chemical products, and normal home appliances are all developed in accordance with the needs of our people, which can also lead to technological self-reliance.
Third, in a country of over 1.4 billion people, it is impossible to buy the better life aspired for by our people since nobody could supply it. We need to produce to meet our people's needs. The process of technological self-reliance is a process of satisfying our people and in my own view, contributing to the world. If everyone buys a certain product in the world, I believe that no one could supply it. Therefore, our self-reliance in science and technology contributes to the world.
Fourth, there are no boundaries in science and technology, which is the common wisdom of the globe and humanity. Therefore, China's technological self-reliance is bound to make contributions to the global development of industry and information technology. Take fast developing 5G technology for example: we have built over 718,000 base stations by the end of 2020 and a complete systematical network will be built during the next five years. We are also planning to develop 6G technology, and discover the future of communication technology, and what kind of services it can offer. This process must require the gathering of knowledge, talent and innovation, and we are open and cooperative to improve people's living standard with the rest of the world. The purpose of self-reliance is not for our own good, but also as a way to help create a community with a shared future for mankind. The process can provide knowledge and positive energy for the globe and the result can serve all of humanity.
This puts forward new and higher requirements for industry and information technology to implement self-reliance, and we have to do this work well one by one. We will also strengthen openness and cooperation with countries and regions including the United States, Europe and other developing countries. Thank you.
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