China’s ‘two sessions’ 2023: basic research to fuel science-led recovery

R&D is now regarded as the main driver of the country’s development, Science and Technology Minister Wang Zhigang says

China will also continue to expand its 5G network while comprehensively developing 6G technology

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China will continue to expand its 5G mobile networks, while comprehensively developing 6G. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:00pm, 6 Mar 2023Updated: 4:23pm, 6 Mar 2023

China’s plans to use science and technology to energise its economic growth will be underpinned by basic research and development, the two ministers responsible for drafting the policy have confirmed.

Wang Zhigang, science and technology minister, and his industry and IT counterpart Jin Zhuanglong, fleshed out the new priorities in an interview after the opening ceremony of the 14th National People’s Congress.

In the interview, published by state news agency Xinhua, Wang said basic research was now regarded as the main driver of China’s development.

“This is a new understanding of the [Communist] party. We have greater demand for underlying technologies and mind-blowing applications,” he said.

The draft policy, which includes a commitment to develop new technologies like 6G, was delivered on Sunday, on the first day of the “two sessions” meetings in Beijing.

China is the world’s second-largest spender on scientific research, with R&D funding surpassing 3 trillion yuan (US$434 billion) in 2022, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

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