Hi-tech development cannot be begged for, the president is quoted as saying during a trip to Anhui capital, now an innovation powerhouse
Science and technology should lead the modernisation of China, President Xi Jinping emphasised, as he gave a fresh push to innovation in the southeastern hi-tech hub of Hefei earlier this week.
“To advance modernization in the Chinese style, science and technology must take the lead, with technological innovation being the necessary path to follow,” Xi said during a visit on Thursday to Hefei Binhu Science City, a flagship research and innovation hub in the Anhui provincial capital.
“Hi-tech development cannot be begged for; we must accelerate the realization of high-level technological self-reliance and self-improvement,” state news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as saying during the visit, which was part of an inspection trip to the province.
Xi also urged Anhui to continue to improve its role as a significant center for technological innovation, a hub for emerging industries, a new high ground for reform and opening up, and as a region pursuing comprehensive green transformation in economic and social development.
Xi’s remarks come as China doubles down on technological advancements amid a strategic shift towards what it calls “new quality productive forces”, away from the previous export-oriented growth model. It also comes amid a prolonged tech war with the United States, which has sought to curb China’s hi-tech access.
Hefei, once an impoverished eastern backwater, has emerged as a poster child of the new sci-tech push, transformed by local authorities into a powerhouse for innovation.
Its industrial hubs now produce high-end manufacturing, electric vehicles (EVs), LED screens, clean energy production, biotech and semiconductors.
Xi explored exhibits at Hefei Binhu Science City showcasing the province’s top technological developments since 2020.
The displays focus on innovations in new energy vehicles – such as Chinese EV maker JAC – intelligent “connected vehicles”, next-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and life sciences.
According to Xinhua, Xi examined displays of progress in renewable energy, intelligent connected vehicles and life sciences.
In 2020, the central government set out its new energy vehicle development plan for the next 15 years, calling for EV sales to account for one-fifth of total new car sales in China by 2025.
Since then, Anhui province has seen remarkable growth in innovation-led industries, reinforcing its status in the national manufacturing landscape, particularly in EVs, solar energy, and lithium-ion battery production.
The province now accounts for around one-fifth of China’s new energy vehicle output and a substantial part of its solar and battery production.
The province is also home to about 6,800 emerging industrial enterprises, which contributed over 60 percent to its industrial economic growth last year.
The “Hefei model” has been hailed by both the central government and other cities as China competes with the US in hi-tech sectors.
Hefei’s proactive stance in fostering innovation has also attracted a range of start-ups and established corporations focused on hi-tech manufacturing, including EV maker Nio and tech firm Continental.
Official support through funding, resources and a favorable regulatory environment has helped to create a flourishing ecosystem for businesses, particularly in clean energy technology and sophisticated manufacturing processes.
Another plus is a network of noted institutions that fuels innovation and talent.
For instance, Binhu Science City is home to renowned institutions like the University of Science and Technology of China and the Hefei University of Technology, which supply a steady, top-class talent pool.
Xi also met local researchers and entrepreneurs during his visit, highlighting the importance of speeding up technological self-reliance as a path to achieving modernisation.
Praising scientists and researchers as the “backbone” of promoting Chinese-style modernisation, Xi called upon them to bring out the “can-do” spirit, innovate boldly, and contribute to boosting China’s scientific and technological strength, according to Xinhua.
Before Hefei, Xi visited Liuchi Alley in the city of Tongcheng, where he called upon local authorities to promote and carry forward traditional Chinese culture.
The alley was created during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) when a scholar and his neighbor mutually agreed to reduce their land boundaries by about a meter (3 feet) each.
Calling the alley a model of neighbourly harmony and courtesy, Xi said it showed how “internal conflicts among the people should be resolved through mediation”, according to Xinhua.
Credits: SCMP
