A large number of world-famous academic institutions and international joint laboratories have sprung up in the Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province since its establishment, Wang Shuguo, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University, told media on Monday at the second Deputies' Corridor of this year's Two Sessions.

Wang was among the National People's Congress (NPC) deputies who attended the second meeting of the third annual session of the 13th NPC on May 25 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Prior to the meeting, deputies spoke to the media via online video calls at the second Deputies' Corridor.

"With the arrival of the fourth industrial revolution, we have to think about the pathway of China's economic and social development in the future, as well as the direction of educational and technological development," noted the NPC deputy.

Wang said that taking aim at the frontline of the world's science and technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University built the Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor (iharbour) two years ago to gear scientific and technological innovation toward the main battlefield of the economy and the country's major requirements.

According to the NPC deputy, a large number of world-famous academic institutions have "settled in" the iharbor, establishing numerous international joint laboratories. Meanwhile, a slew of key projects have been launched by the central and provincial governments and firms at the iharbor, with many "joint laboratories" set up by enterprises in cooperation with the universities and colleges.

"It is this series of practices that makes the iharbor full of vitality," added Wang.

The university president added that educational innovation and reform is needed "to enable our students to adapt to future society."

In addition to 5G communications, industrial internet, artificial intelligence, big data and other commonly known modern technologies, the university also focuses on energy-related fields, founding the world's first discipline of energy storage, so as to explore the key technologies in the future and cultivate talents in this field, according to Wang.

"In the face of such a rapidly changing world, we have to take the initiative to act, be bold enough to innovate, and take our responsibilities," Wang said.

(Top image: Wang Shuguo, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University, answers a question at the second Deputies' Corridor, Beijing, China, May 25, 2020. /VCG)