Science Talk: China's technological development in the spotlight at annual two sessions

Welcome to Science Talk.

China's annual "two sessions" — the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference — have just concluded. When it comes to popular topics at these meetings, technology is undoubtedly at the forefront.

Premier Li Qiang has highlighted in the government work report that this year, the focus of China's technological development is to make technology more accessible and practical for everyday life.

With advancements like DeepSeek, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and 6G networks, the era of technology transforming lives is upon us. What topics in technological development are you interested in?

Let's first take a look at the government work report. It mentions that in recent years, the government has been vigorously promoting the integration of digital technology into manufacturing, such as using artificial intelligence to transform factory production lines, helping companies produce more efficiently and with more stable quality.

At the same time, products familiar to the public, like smart cars and smart home appliances, are also rapidly upgrading. The annual production of new energy vehicles has exceeded 13 million units, with new models offering faster charging and longer ranges continually emerging.

The 5G network is more widely covered, and the industrial internet enables "information exchange" between factories. In the future, technology a hundred times faster than 5G, like 6G, may be used.

In the field of innovation, China has also achieved many accomplishments, such as quantum communication, chip development, the Chang'e 6 mission bringing back soil samples from the far side of the moon, and the deep-sea exploration vessel "Dream" paving the way for resource development.

Furthermore, the government encourages enterprises, vocational schools, and universities to work together to provide more opportunities for young people, ensuring that technology not only remains "high-tech", but also solves everyday problems for ordinary people.

Let's also see what the representatives and committee members have to say.

Qiao Hong, a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said: "China's robotics technology has made a leap forward, narrowing the gap with international advanced levels. In the past three years, our industrial robot installation has accounted for more than half of the global total."

NPC deputy and president of the CAS Institute of Science and Development, Pan Jiaofeng, said: "The added value of high-tech industry products has grown much faster than other industries, almost more than double the GDP growth rate. Products like integrated circuits and robots are growing at double-digit rates."

NPC deputy Tong Mingquan said: "Relying on the technology of the Institute of Physics of the CAS, we have established a complete industrial chain for sodium-ion batteries. We are currently promoting the application of high-performance carbon fiber in emerging fields such as commercial aerospace and the low-altitude economy, facilitating the transformation of traditional industries."

NPC deputy and a Chief Technician of Jiuquan Iron & Steel Group Du Jun said: "As frontline industrial workers, we will focus on the production line, actively participate in technological innovation and project tackling, and play a bridging role in intelligent equipment operation, process optimization, and technical collaboration, allowing laboratory innovations to take root and bear fruit on the production line."

From scientists and entrepreneurs to workers and users, technological development is closely related to everyone, changing our work and lives.

So, in the ever-changing tide of technological development, what are your thoughts? Feel free to join the discussion.

Stay curious, and stay tuned to Science Talk.

Fang Biling and Tian Zhaosen contributed to this story.