Illustration: Liu Xidan/GT

Recently, the torch relay of China's 15th National Games sparked heated discussion among netizens at home and abroad. Among all the torchbearers, the sight of the robot named Kuavo (Kuafu in Chinese) sprinting forward with the torch held high drew particular attention, with some commenting that "at the beginning of the year the robots could barely twirl a handkerchief, and now it can run and jump freely." Around the same time, the Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship embarked on its space mission, and the AG600 successfully completed its first open water scoop-drop drill, once again pushing China's technological frontiers upward. China's scientific and technological innovation is advancing in a matrix-like surge, stepping into a new stage of development. As The Atlantic noted in a recent article on its website: as we did on a visit this past July, one can feel the country's intense desire to leapfrog into the future.

In the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, "technology" is mentioned 46 times, "innovation" 61 times, and "new quality productive forces" six times. It explicitly promotes quantum technology, bio-manufacturing, hydrogen and nuclear fusion power, brain-computer interfaces, embodied artificial intelligence (AI), and 6G mobile communications as new economic growth points, underscoring China's very high regard for technological development. Given its super-large market and the complete chain from basic research to industrial application, such planning also demonstrates China's firm determination and action to safeguard its industrial chain and supply-chain security through high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, and to empower high-quality development.

One could argue that China's achievements in science and technology are not a one-off success - behind them lies the improved efficiency of the nation's entire innovation system. According to data released by China's Ministry of Science and Technology in September, in 2024 total societal R&D investment exceeded 3.6 trillion yuan ($504 billion), a 48 percent rise over 2020. With strong resource inputs and policy support, China's share of the world's highly cited papers surpassed half for the first time in 2025, reaching 53.2 percent; and China made a number of major original breakthroughs in quantum technology, life sciences, material science, space science and other fields. On this basis, China also places emphasis on converting technological innovation into industrial advantages. The exports of the "new three" products are a vivid demonstration of China leveraging its science-tech strength to reshape the global value chain.

Under the strategic guidance of top-level design, China has built a collaborative innovation system in which national laboratories take the lead, research institutions tackle key challenges, universities lay the foundations, and enterprises serve as the main force - forming a full-chain layout that spans basic research, technological breakthroughs, and industrial application.

China's technological innovation draws nourishment from the whole society and embodies the principle of "putting the people first." Today, more than 90 percent of China's administrative villages have 5G access, China's independently cultivated varieties occupy more than 95 percent of the total crop planting area, and an increasing number of high-end medications are included in the national medical insurance catalog… China's commitment to "investing in people" and "technology for the people" has translated into tangible improvements in public well-being.

In November next year, the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. Bloomberg noted that Shenzhen, often dubbed "China's Silicon Valley," has transformed from a small fishing village into a global technology hub. Through the lens of Shenzhen, the world can witness the confidence of China's innovation-driven development and its commitment to high-standard opening-up. China always adheres to "Tech for Good," ensuring that its technological progress not only benefits its own people but also makes the country an increasingly important contributor to global development. Today, more and more countries get on board the fast train of China's sci-tech development: The Pakistani astronaut to enter the China Space Station is under selection process, and China's perennial rice is helping promote sustainable agricultural development in Africa…

Technology is the core engine driving Chinese modernization and high-quality development. We have witnessed the tremendous value created by technological innovation empowering countless industries. It is the cornerstone for strengthening national security and competitiveness, the key to fostering new quality productive forces and industrial upgrading, the foundation for common prosperity and comprehensive green transformation, and the bond promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. In this sense, China's "intense desire to leapfrog into the future" stems not only from its own need to achieve high-quality development but also from its noble pursuit of sharing development gains with the world and steering the international order toward a more just and rational direction. There is every reason to believe that a dynamic, ever-progressing China will continue to bring more pleasant surprises to the world.