Xi urges independent innovation in science, technology  

习近平：破除制约科技创新的思想障碍和制度藩篱

中国科学院第十七次院士大会、中国工程院第十二次院士大会9日上午在人民大会堂隆重开幕。中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平出席会议并发表重要讲话。他强调，我国科技发展的方向就是创新、创新、再创新。实施创新驱动发展战略，最根本的是要增强自主创新能力，最紧迫的是要破除体制机制障碍，最大限度解放和激发科技作为第一生产力所蕴藏的巨大潜能。[查看全文]

President Xi Jinping on Monday stressed that the direction of China's science and technology development is "innovation, innovation and innovation."

Xi made the remarks at the biennial conference of the country's two top think tanks, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).

Monday's conference was attended by more than 1,300 academicians from the two institutions, which advise the government and industries on key scientific and technological issues.

"We should follow the strategy of innovation as an impetus for development. Independent innovation should be the essence of this strategy and the most urgent thing to do is to eliminate the system and mechanism obstacles so as to free up the huge potentials of science and technology as the primary force of productivity," Xi said.

The president called for a national system for innovation to ensure "the abundant flow of the creative fountain," urging reform in the planning of national innovation strategy and the distribution of science and technology resources.

According to the president, the relationship between government and market should push forward the fusion of science and economy, so that science and technology strength can be transformed into industrial and economic power.

Xi called on the academicians to "unswervingly pursue an independent innovation path with Chinese characteristics ... and speed up the building of China into an innovative country."

Scientists were asked to have a "global perspective" and accurately grasp strategic opportunities in key areas of scientific and technological development.

The President asked scientists to "strive to make important breakthroughs in key technologies, and master crucial technologies into our own hands."

While calling for further reform of China's scientific and technological system, Xi vowed to eradicate ideological and systematic impediments to scientific and technological innovation.