7 'firsts' in China's sci-tech achievements in 2012-17

Editor's note: China has become the world leader in many aspects of science and technology development over the past five years, shifting from "copied in China" to "created in China". Here's a look at some of the leading achievements.

Patient Qiu Baozhu is about to discharge from hospital after receiving the cornea transplant operation at the Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University in Xiamen, Southeast China's Fujian province, Nov 27, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

1. World's first artificial cornea

In a move expected to benefit millions of patients suffering from corneal blindness, the world's first artificial bioengineering cornea created and developed domestically by China went into production in May 2015.

The cornea, of which China has complete intellectual property right, is the first and the only cornea in the world that has completed clinical trials. The artificial bioengineering cornea is expected to bring light to the Chinese patients and 60 million patients overseas soon.