According to the Chinese leadership, China's modernization is closely linked to the development of science and technology. The period of the 15th five-year plan should be a key stage in building the country as a major scientific and technological power. This year, which marks the beginning of a new planning period, Chinese President Xi Jinping has made a number of decisions aimed at strengthening technological innovation and accelerating the achievement of a high level of self-sufficiency in science and technology.
In July, the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 was held in Shanghai, along with a high-level meeting dedicated to global artificial intelligence governance. At the opening ceremony, Xi Jinping pointed out that the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, and innovations in the field of artificial intelligence are entering a period of extremely rapid development.
At the beginning of the year, the first collective study session of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China focused on planning and developing future industries. On this occasion, Xi Jinping emphasized the need to support promising fields with regard to the long-term development of the country and to create conditions for further technological breakthroughs.
A few days later, he visited the Xinchuang technology park in the Yizhuang area of Beijing, where he learned about the results of developments in the field of artificial intelligence, robotics, and other modern technologies. He stressed that scientific and technological self-sufficiency is one of the key prerequisites for building a modern socialist country. He called on scientists, engineers, and other experts to actively participate in the modernization of the country.
Another important topic is basic research. At an April seminar in Shanghai, Xi Jinping called for its further strengthening, support for original innovations, and consolidation of the foundations for China's long-term scientific and technological development.
The importance of science and technology was also emphasized at the National Science and Technology Awards Conference held in Beijing in July, which took place together with a meeting of academics and the national congress of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology. There, Xi Jinping called for the consistent implementation of the scientific and technological plans set for the period of the 15th five-year plan.
China has set itself the goal of becoming a leading scientific and technological power by 2035. According to Xi Jinping, the current rapid technological development brings not only opportunities but also pressure to accelerate changes. Therefore, the country wants to use this period to strengthen its own innovation capabilities, scientific and technological independence, and competitiveness.
According to the Chinese leadership, scientific and technological innovations should play one of the main roles in the continued modernization of the country and the achievement of long-term development goals.
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