The China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) has released a list of primary issues in science, engineering, technology and industrial technology for 2023.

A total of 29 issues, in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), new energy, high-performance materials and life sciences were highlighted at the main forum of the CAST's annual conference on Sunday in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province.

This year's solicitation campaign has received 590 proposals for sci-tech issues in 10 fields, namely basic science, Earth science, ecological environments, manufacturing technology, information technology, advanced materials, resources and energy, agricultural science and technology, life health, and aerospace science.

Issues like how to realize low energy consumption AI, what the long period energy storage methods are for new power systems, and how to make breakthroughs in the application of carbon fiber composite materials in China's future ultra-high-speed rail transportation vehicles and equipment are among them.

A total of 117 academicians participated in recommending and evaluating the issues.

Almost 3,400 forward-looking, innovative and leading issues have been selected and proposed in the solicitation campaign for the past six years by more than 150 national organizations. A number of societies have established a releasing mechanism for the problems in their field, and have carried out academic exchanges, think tank suggestions, science popularization and collaborative research on the released issues.

The CAST will continue to track the issues released, and guide original and leading research to accelerate realizing high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.

(With input from Xinhua)