Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his New Year address for 2025 on Tuesday. In his message, President Xi highlighted a series of scientific and technological milestones, including the Chang'e-6 lunar mission, the commission of China's first domestically designed and built deep-ocean drilling vessel, Meng Xiang, the opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link and the Qinling Station in Antarctica. Let's explore these achievements through images.
An image of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe's lander-ascender combination, taken by a mini rover that was released from the combination on its way to the far side of the moon. /China National Space Administration
On May 3, 2024, China successfully launched its latest lunar probe, the Chang'e-6, with the goal of bringing back 2 kilograms of samples from the far side of the moon, never before done by humans. History was made on June 25, 2024, as the returner of the Chang'e-6 landed in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The Meng Xiang vessel. /CMG
The Meng Xiang, China's first domestically designed and built deep-ocean drilling vessel, has a maximum drilling depth of 11 kilometers and was officially commissioned in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou on November 17, 2024.
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link in Guangdong Province, south China. /CFP
China opened the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link in Guangdong Province, south China, on June 30, 2024. The megaproject is one of the most difficult cross-sea cluster projects in the world. It also holds 10 world records.
An aerial view of China Qinling Station in Antarctica. /CFP
China's fifth scientific outpost in the Antarctic, Qinling Station, was officially named and opened on February 7, 2024.
In the message, Xi also highlighted China's achievements in new energy vehicles, integrated circuits, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technology.
China has become the first country in the world to produce over 10 million NEVs in a year.
Visitors explore a new energy vehicle at an auto show in Beijing, China, October 17, 2024. /CFP
Domestically manufactured semiconductor chips are powering electronic devices from supercomputers to consumer-level PCs and smartphones.
The Huawei Mate XT tri-fold smartphone. /CFP
In 2024, China registered 210 generative AI services, a substantial increase from the 62 registered in 2023.
Read more: The rise of AI in China: a 2024 snapshot
With years of efforts, Chinese researchers are racing to build the world's best quantum computer.
A render of the computing chip used in the Zuchongzhi 3.0 quantum computer. /China Media Group
Read more: Quantum supremacy race heats up: China's new test blasts past Google