Editor's note: Curtis Stone is an international relations expert, an editor and commentator. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

All eyes are on China, as the second biggest economy in the world is holding the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The key political event kicked off on October 16, with Xi Jinping delivering a comprehensive report at the Great Hall of the People. 

The report highlighted key domestic and international priorities, including the country's modernization drive. In his report, Xi stressed the role that science and education have in rejuvenating the country. Xi said: "We must regard science and technology as our primary productive force, talent as our primary resource, and innovation as our primary driver of growth." 

The key takeaway is that China sees education, science and technology, and talent as the foundational and strategic pillars for building a modern socialist country in all respects, and it shows that China not only has a sharp vision for its future but also the will and ambition to seize it.

Science and technology capabilities and talent resources form the basis of modern civilization and are fundamental to both progress and growth. Scientific insights and technological breakthroughs often change the way we think about and live our daily lives, helping shape and define the future of everything we do, from communicating with friends to shopping for clothes. 

About two decades ago, for example, China achieved a major milestone by sending an astronaut into space, becoming only the third country to do so independently after the Soviet Union and the United States. Indeed, this was a great achievement for a rising country, but fast forward to today and we see that China not only has the capability to send astronauts to space but the capability to build and run a permanent space station of its own, land a rover on the far side of the moon, and even land a rover on Mars on its first try, something that took NASA decades to accomplish. This is the definition of progress.

China has become a leading power in so many areas because of its science and technology capabilities and talent resources. Technological innovation has played a significant role in China's modernization drive and there is no doubt that continuous innovation will propel China forward. 

After all, let us not forget that within a period of about four decades, China lifted about eight-hundred million people out of extreme poverty, which is well over twice the size of the population of the United States, and it has also sprouted futuristic megacities all over the country, among numerous other things, including planning and building massive infrastructure. 

Let that sink in for a moment. Within a period of about a single generation, a country with a population of over a billion people morphed into one of the richest, most powerful, and most innovative countries on the planet. Of course, a range of factors are at play here, but science and technology have played a solid supporting role in this process.

With more technological innovation, Chinese people have been able to seek out opportunities more easily and create new ones. For example, innovative technology in agriculture has changed the way farmers grow crops and raise livestock, and has also changed the way people buy and sell food. 

One prominent example of innovation in agriculture is the work of Chinese scientist Yuan Longping, also known as the "father of hybrid rice," who developed strains of hybrid high-yield rice that helped alleviate poverty around the world. Then there is the creation of things such as e-commerce platforms linking the urban and rural areas of China, allowing farmers to sell their produce directly to customers across the country. This type of innovation has helped lift people out of poverty and improved their quality of life. Furthermore, this type of innovation has also helped China become a leader.

From hybrid rice and massive infrastructure to the frontier technologies that will power our future, China's modernization efforts have already created a better life for the Chinese people and for people across the word. 

The development of education, science and technology, and talent have all laid a solid foundation for China's growth over the years; and the implementation of an innovation-driven development strategy with greater emphasis on becoming self-reliant and building strength in science and technology will continue to move things forward. 

As Xi laid out in his report at the Party Congress, China must regard innovation as the primary driver of growth. As we can see, the path of innovation has always been, and still is, at the heart of China's modernization drive.

Thus, improving technological innovation will help China achieve its goals and overcome its challenges. With technology innovation and the will and ambition to achieve modernization, China's future progress and growth not only looks promising but is unstoppable.

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