Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attends a meeting conflating the national sci-tech conference, the national science and technology award conference, and the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 24, 2024. Xi delivered an important speech at the meeting on Monday. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday underscored the importance of sci-tech modernization and innovation in pursuing Chinese modernization and high-quality development.

Noting the strategically leading and fundamental supporting role of science and technology, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged efforts to strengthen top-level design and overall planning, and expedite high-level sci-tech self-reliance to realize the strategic goal of building a strong country in science and technology by 2035.

Xi presented China's top sci-tech award and made the remarks at a meeting conflating the national sci-tech conference, the national science and technology award conference, and the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).

Li Qiang presided over the meeting. Ding Xuexiang announced the award decision. Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Li Xi attended the meeting.

Xi presented medals and certificates for the country's top sci-tech award to Li Deren, an academician of CAS and CAE from Wuhan University, and Xue Qikun, an academician of CAS from Tsinghua University. He then shook hands with the two scientists and extended his congratulations.

Xi and other Party and state leaders, together with the two winners of the top sci-tech award, presented certificates to other award recipients.

China has made new breakthroughs in basic frontier research, taken new strides in strategic high-tech fields, achieved new results in high-quality development driven by innovation, opened up new prospects in the reform of the sci-tech system, and made new progress in sci-tech opening-up and cooperation with the rest of the world, Xi said.

Xi pointed out that experience accumulated from the sci-tech development in the new era must be adhered to and continuously enriched in practice.

The experience includes adhering to the overall leadership of the Party, the path of independent innovation with Chinese characteristics, innovation-driven development, deepening reform to stimulate innovation vitality, the virtuous cycle of education, sci-tech development and talent, the cultivation of innovation culture, as well as sci-tech opening-up and cooperation for the benefit of mankind.

Xi pointed out there are still some weak spots in the development of the country's sci-tech undertakings. The country must further enhance its sense of urgency and intensify its efforts in sci-tech innovation, so as to secure a leading position in sci-tech competition and future development, he said.

Xi urged giving full play to the advantages of the new national system for mobilizing nationwide resources, improving the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over sci-tech work, and building a coordinated and efficient decision-making and command system, as well as organization and implementation system.

China must fully leverage the decisive role of the market in allocating sci-tech resources, and better utilize the role of the government, he said.

Xi urged the promotion of the deep integration of sci-tech innovation with industrial innovation to facilitate the development of new quality productive forces.

He called for an increase in high-quality sci-tech support for major sectors and vulnerable links in the construction of modern industrial system, fostering and developing emerging industries and future industries, and actively using new technologies to transform and upgrade traditional industries.

Xi called for deepening the comprehensive reform of sci-tech systems and mechanisms, and emphasized the importance of an integrated reform in educational, scientific and talent institutions to cultivate a large, well-structured and high-caliber team of innovative talent.

Xi also called for achieving sci-tech self-reliance and strength through openness and cooperation.

He called for the further implementation of international sci-tech cooperation initiatives, broadening channels for exchanges and collaborations at both governmental and non-governmental levels, and leveraging platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative to support collaborative research by scientists worldwide.

Xi urged efforts to engage in the global innovation network, participate in global technology governance, and work together to tackle global challenges.

Xi expressed the hope that academicians of the CAS and the CAE will serve as pioneers at the forefront of science and technology, undertake important tasks, guide the growth of young talent, and exemplify the spirit of scientists.

He called on all sci-tech workers to actively align their academic pursuits with the great cause of building a nation that is strong in science and technology.

Presiding over the conference, Li Qiang pointed out that Xi's remarks summarized the important experience of sci-tech development, elaborated the role of sci-tech innovation in promoting Chinese modernization and building a great modern socialist country in all respects, and clarified the basic connotation and main tasks of building a strong country in science and technology under the new circumstances.

Monday's meeting was attended by about 3,000 people and honored 250 projects and 12 sci-tech experts, with two scientists winning the top award, 49 projects the State Natural Science Award, 62 projects the State Technological Invention Award, 139 projects the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, and 10 foreign experts the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award.