The history of China in the field of science and civilization, through the centuries, was well captured by the famous British scientist Joseph Needham.

His volumes on the science and civilization of China are a fabulous collection of what China has contributed to the world.

The range of inventions is well known and preceded similar discoveries in the West, often by centuries.

But Needham also asked why no deeper scientific revolution had occurred in China, an issue today known as the Needham Question.

Some say there are specific developmental and geographical reasons why the Industrial Revolution spread fast and deep in the West and more slowly in the East.

But now the East, Asia in particular, has leapfrogged back to a global leading role in innovation and commercialism.   Japan and ASEAN first and now China, these economies and societies are coming to the level of the West, and in some cases, passing the West.

This is why there is reference to this century being that of Asia.

Professor Peter Nolan, the modern Needham, has studied this more carefully and shown that Western multinational companies, especially those of the US, Germany and Japan, have a big advantage protected by intellectual and huge investments in research and development which give them a significant edge.

In the new Five-Year Plan China has announced the next stage in its scientific path to close the technology gap. Education and other resources for innovation is now a national priority, including areas well beyond commerce.

It is a socialist and scientific path that blends China's historic capabilities with its new market economy, large market and resources, to position China to join the ranks of advanced technology nations within 10-20 years.

In some cases it will be closing the gap, and in others using new inventions to anticipate the future.

Chinese work and study hard and the achievements of the last 38 years shows the targets backed by the scientific path, combined with China's historical characteristics, will make this outcome very probable.

Soon made-in-China will become created-in-China.

This is China's destiny.

While the West suffers from a financial sector that infects the core of its economies, China has learnt from this and protected its financial services.

In time people will appreciate that innovation can mean taking care and effectively managing greed.

In many fields such as Internet services, telecoms, and computers, China is creating companies that are becoming world leaders.

In the next decade most sectors will see Chinese companies taking their positions in the top 10 among firms in their field, innovating and growing fast.

It is the culmination of natural skills and the scientific path that will create this progress and make China again as not just a global leading nation, but also a global leader in many sectors.

The author is chairperson of the UK 48 Group Club. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn Follow us on Twitter @GTopinion