SCI-TECH PUSH
On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Premier Li Keqiang extended congratulations to award winners and thanked foreign experts for their support of China's science and technology development.
Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country has made brilliant achievements in scientific and technological development, with the past year witnessing a number of internationally leading advances.
Li noted that China is striving to achieve the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2020.
The premier stressed the importance of following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, further implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and accelerating the in-depth integration of science and technology with the economy, in a bid to maintain the economic growth within a reasonable range and promote the high-quality development.
He called for the strengthening of basic research as the foundation of sci-tech innovation.
"We will increase financial support and guide social forces including enterprises to increase investment," Li said, adding that the mechanisms for ensuring funds, evaluating achievements and rewarding talent shall all be optimized.
China will support researchers in concentrating on their work without distractions and create more original achievements by respecting rules and tolerating failures, Li said.
Those who dedicated themselves to the scientific work despite decades of obscurity shall be commended and awarded, he said.
The premier also stressed that sci-tech innovation shall address the urgent needs of economic development and people's livelihood.
China will accelerate the development of key technologies and transforming research achievements to products to help speed up industrial upgrading, he said.
Research and development shall be intensified in major disease prevention and control as well as environmental management so that more people will directly benefit from technology and innovation, he said.
The premier emphasized the role of enterprises in technological innovation and called for efforts to improve their ability and willingness to invest more in innovation by implementing tax and fee deduction policies as well as respecting and protecting their intellectual property rights.
To expand international cooperation in innovation, Li pledged to facilitate scientists and technicians as well as enterprises from various countries to come to China for exchanges and development.
