China transforming into innovation powerhouse

To integrate technological innovation and industrial innovation, Pan said it is necessary to build platforms, improve institutional mechanisms, strengthen the position of enterprises as the main innovators and seamlessly connect the innovation and the industrial chains.

Lei Jun, a deputy to the 14th NPC and chairman of Xiaomi Corp, said: "We are full of confidence in developing new quality productive forces and remain unwavering in driving high-quality development through innovation. This year's Government Work Report consistently emphasizes 'innovation' and 'high-quality development', which deeply inspires me as a private entrepreneur in the tech sector and reinforces my confidence in achieving high-quality growth.

"I am moved by the nation's resolve to enhance the overall efficiency of its innovation system. One line from the report particularly resonates with me — promoting the spirit of scientists and fostering an innovation environment that encourages exploration and tolerates failure. This is the greatest encouragement for scientific research and entrepreneurial innovation."

He added: "Additionally, the report also emphasizes the need to leverage the leading role of sci-tech enterprises to advance high-level self-reliance and self-improvement in technology, which reminds me of the immense responsibility we shoulder."

The senior executive said Xiaomi, which has invested 105 billion yuan ($14.5 billion) on research and development over the past five years, will continue to pursue breakthroughs in more crucial technologies and apply them into products.

Jin Li, vice-president of the Southern University of Science and Technology and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said: "Relying on the aggregation of scientific and technological resources, China is well-placed to coordinate the comprehensive reform and development of the education, science and technology talent system, so as to unleash a powerful momentum for scientific and technological innovation to lead high-quality development."

In 2024, China's total R&D expenditure reached 3.6 trillion yuan, an 8 percent increase from the previous year. The proportion of basic research funding within the total R&D budget hit 6.91 percent, and there were 14 high-value invention patents per 10,000 people, data from the government work report showed.

These figures reflect China's commitment to increasing its R&D intensity, which stood at 2.68 percent in 2024, surpassing the average level of European Union countries, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

Meanwhile, China possesses the most complete and largest industrial system globally. It ranks first globally in the production of over 220 industrial products and is the only country in the world that has all industrial categories in the United Nations' industrial classification, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Zhang Li, a deputy to the 14th NPC and president of the China Center for Information Industry Development, said: "Boasting such a strong, complete industrial system, China provides rich application scenarios and enormous market potential for technological innovation, as well as solid support for the development of emerging industries and future industries."

Li said that by combining new ideas and technologies with China's robust manufacturing capabilities and vast market potential, the nation can better harness its strengths.

Industrial innovation must remain rooted in the real economy, emphasizing both the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the development of strategic emerging industries and future sectors, Zhang said.

"China's economy has historically relied on the real economy, and it is through this foundation that it will continue to progress," he added.

According to the Government Work Report, China "will establish a mechanism to increase funding for industries of the future and foster industries such as biomanufacturing, quantum technology, embodied AI and 6G technology".

Guo Guoping, a deputy to the 14th NPC and deputy director of the Key Lab of Quantum Information at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said he was deeply impressed by China's emphasis on nurturing strategic future technologies such as quantum computing.

"China has become the third country in the world capable of delivering complete quantum computers, positioning itself in the global first tier of quantum computing research. But challenges remain in some areas," he said.

Guo also stressed the need for increased investment in basic research, which he describes as the foundation of high-level scientific and technological independence. He advocated for leveraging China's unique advantages in mobilizing resources to tackle key core technologies and advance frontier and disruptive technologies.

"We need to build a robust industrial ecosystem that can support the transition from laboratory prototypes to commercial products," he added.

Qiao Hong, a member of the National Committee of CPPCC and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said China has made rapid progress in robotics and artificial intelligence.

"Over the past three years, China has accounted for more than half of the global installations of industrial robots, and its lunar exploration robots have successfully returned lunar soil samples," Qiao said.

Qiao pointed to the development of humanoid robots as a particularly promising area, with China establishing a core technological foundation for large-scale, cost-effective production of high-performance robotic systems.

Her insights underscore the importance of integrating AI and robotics into traditional industries to enhance efficiency and productivity.