China’s Xi Jinping calls for innovation system overhaul to beat global tech rivals

President Xi Jinping has called for a significant overhaul of China's innovation system, emphasizing the need to attract overseas talent and address systemic flaws as the nation confronts escalating global technological competition.

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technological strength and innovation capability have increasingly become a nation’s core competitiveness

During a national science assembly in Beijing, Xi presented the prestigious State Pre-eminent Science and Technology Award to Chen Liquan, a pioneer in solid-state lithium batteries, and Ben De, an expert in military airborne radar technology. Each laureate received 5 million yuan (approximately US$736,000).

Xi identified the 2026-2030 period as crucial for building China into a technological powerhouse. He stressed the imperative for breakthrough innovations to propel Chinese modernization efforts. However, he acknowledged persistent structural challenges, including insufficient original innovation in certain fields, an imbalanced talent structure, and inefficient technology investments.

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seize historical opportunities to accelerate high-level self-reliance

The president linked these domestic priorities to shifting global power dynamics, stating that technological strength is increasingly becoming a nation's core competitiveness. He specifically highlighted the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), driven by data, computing power, and algorithms, as presenting a "pressing" situation. Xi urged China to seize historical opportunities to accelerate high-level technological self-reliance.

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insufficient original innovation capability in certain fields, an irrational talent structure, and low efficiency in tech investment