Xi calls for advancing Chinese modernization through sci-tech innovation-Xinhua

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 bringing together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2026. Xi delivered an important speech at the meeting here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for accelerated efforts to achieve high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and leverage sci-tech innovation to underpin and drive Chinese modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a meeting in Beijing that brought together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology.

He said the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is a critical phase for tackling tough challenges in building up the country's strength in science and technology.

"We must seize the historic opportunity, rise to the challenges of the times, accelerate efforts to achieve high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and make steady progress toward the 2035 goal of becoming a leading country in science and technology," he said.

At the meeting, Xi presented China's top sci-tech award for the year 2025 to Chen Liquan, a researcher at the Institute of Physics under the CAS and a CAE academician, and Ben De, a researcher at the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and also a CAE academician. After presenting the medals and certificates to the two scientists, Xi shook hands with them and extended his congratulations.

Xi and other Party and state leaders, together with the two top-award winners, presented certificates to representatives of recipients of other awards, including the State Natural Science Award, the State Technological Invention Award, and the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award. ■

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presents China's top sci-tech award for the year 2025 to Chen Liquan (R), a researcher at the Institute of Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and a Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) academician, and Ben De (L), a researcher at the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and a CAE academician, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2026. A meeting bringing together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the CAS and the CAE, and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology was held here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

A meeting bringing together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2026. Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi attended the meeting here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presents China's top sci-tech award for the year 2025 to Chen Liquan, a researcher at the Institute of Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and a Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) academician, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2026. A meeting bringing together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the CAS and the CAE, and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology was held here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presents China's top sci-tech award for the year 2025 to Ben De, a researcher at the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and a Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) academician, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2026. A meeting bringing together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the CAE, and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology was held here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state meet and pose for a group photo with representatives of the national sci-tech award winners prior to a meeting bringing together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state, together with the two winners of the national top sci-tech award, present certificates to representatives of recipients of the State Natural Science Award, the State Technological Invention Award, the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award and the China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2026. A meeting bringing together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology was held here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with the two national top sci-tech award winners Chen Liquan, a researcher at the Institute of Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and a Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) academician, and Ben De, a researcher at the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and also a CAE academician, after a meeting bringing together the national science and technology award conference, the general assemblies of the members of the CAS and the CAE, and the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)