China on the way to a global leader in discipline and technology: Objectives and strategies for 2035

In the March issue of the magazine Qiushi (2025) The content of the speech by Xi Jinping was published during National technological and Technological Conference (24 June 2024), which outlines key construction assumptions China's technological and technological power by 2035. The article highlights the 5 fundamental elements needed to accomplish this nonsubjective and the 5 directions of action to supply China global innovation advantage.

Five pillars of China's technological and technological power

1. Strong investigation bases and innovation capacities

To become a leader in science, China must make Basic research and make breakthroughs. As highlighted in Qiushi:

"The first component is to have strong capacities for basic and first innovation investigation to continuously make breakthrough technological and technological developments".

This means investment in areas specified as Artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnologyChina is already competing with the US and the EU.

2. Capability to break key technologies

The second pillar is independence from abroad technologies, peculiarly in strategical sectors specified as:

• semiconductors,
• advanced robotics,
• nuclear and renewable energy.

"We must effectively advance quality improvement and national safety by mastering key technologies" – reads in the document.

3. Global influence and leadership

China aspires to the function World discipline Centre, competing with Silicon Valley and European investigation hubs. To this end, they plan:

• increased participation international investigation projects,
• Development its own technological megaprojects (e.g. space exploration, artificial intelligence),
• strengthening cooperation within the framework Belt and way Initiatives (BRI).

4. Attracting and educating elite talent

To accomplish ambitious plans, China must Stop brain escape And attract the best scientists. To this end:

• increase the backing of scholarships and grants,
• develop exchange programmes with abroad centres,
• invest in strategic staff (e.g. in the defence area).

"The key is to continually strengthen the global technological elite and national investigation forces" – highlighted in the article.

5. An effective discipline management system

The last component is creation Best eco-system for innovation in the planet by:

• reform of investigation funding,
• greater autonomy for universities and institutes,
• better coordination between government and private sector.

Five strategical actions

1. Strengthening organization function in discipline management

"The strategy of centralised leadership of the Communist organization of China on discipline needs to be improved to better coordinate resources and investigation forces".

It means greater State control on key projects, while at the same time utilizing market mechanisms to allocate funds.

2. Integration of discipline and industry

China's betting on development of fresh quality manufacturing forces (新质生产力), which requires close cooperation between:

• research centres,
• high-tech companies (e.g. Huawei, BYD),
• State institutions.

“The key is to strengthen the leading function of companies in innovation” It's been stressed.

3. improvement of the technological system

The paper identifies problems specified as:

• Dispersal of resources,
• low task management efficiency.

The solution is:

• greater autonomy for researchers,
• optimising financing,
• better organisation of global projects.

4. Investments in education and staff

China is developing integrated education-science-industrial systemto:

• increase the number of STEM graduates,
• promote academic and business cooperation,
• build ‘citys of science’ (e.g. Shenzhen, Hangzhou).

5. Global technological cooperation

Despite geopolitical tensions, China declares openness:

"Only global cooperation is the right way. The harder the environment, the more we should open the door”.

The initiatives included:

• projects under BRI,
• Participation in major investigation programmes (e.g. ITER, CERN),
• combating global challenges (climate, energy).

Summary

China's strategy by 2035 assumes full technological self-sufficiency while building global leadership. Although Beijing emphasizes openness, its plans are clear: China is to become the world's most crucial discipline center, competing with the West not only in the economy but besides in shaping future technologies.

Will they succeed? A lot depends on how they deal with the challenges:

• restrictions on technology transfer (e.g. US sanctions),
• competition from the USA and the EU,
• maintaining innovation in the face of economical slowdown.

One thing is certain – The technology race of the 21st century has just entered a decisive phase.

Source:

• Qiushi diary (2025), "The Goals of Building China’s discipline and Technology Capability"
• National discipline and Technology Conference (2024)
• Analysis of BRI strategies and Chinese investigation programmes

Leszek B. Glass

Email: [email protected]

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