Technological breakthroughs power China's innovation drive

Editor's note: The year 2025 marks the final year China implements its 14th Five-Year Plan. Over the past five years, from technological innovation to green development, from rural revitalization to a tightly knit high-speed rail network, the Chinese people have experienced remarkable transformation in their daily lives. To reflect on and celebrate the shared progress among the Chinese nation, CGTN presents "Our Nation, Our Home: A Five-Year Journey" series. This is the third article in the series. Liu Chunsheng, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Beijing-based Central University of Finance and Economics. The article reflects the author's opinion and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Every morning, as I settle into the driver's seat and voice my destination to the central control screen, my domestically produced new-energy smart car starts up quietly, automatically mapping the optimal route before merging seamlessly into the city's traffic.

During the peak of the morning rush, the intelligent driving-assistance system takes command of the steering, acceleration and braking, sparing me from the repetitive and fatiguing task of inching along behind other vehicles. The expansive in-car display provides real-time updates on surrounding cars, pedestrians and road conditions, while the highly accurate BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) not only guides the journey but maintains an unwavering signal even when passing through tunnels.

This daily commute is no longer a simple trip to work; it feels like moving through living scenes that capture China's remarkable scientific and technological achievements under the 14th Five-Year Plan. These experiences on the road offer the most tangible reflection of how the country's growing capacity for innovation has steadily reshaped everyday life.

When the BDS delivers meter-level, even centimeter-level, positioning accuracy to users around the world; when China's domestically developed large passenger jet, the C919, takes to the skies, entering commercial service and breaking the long-standing duopoly of Boeing and Airbus; when China's new-energy vehicle (NEV) production and sales lead the world for consecutive years, becoming a fixture in households nationwide – these vivid moments stand as powerful proof of the historic leap in China's technological innovation during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, injecting immense momentum into Chinese modernization.

The concentrated emergence of these major breakthroughs is far from coincidental. Behind them lies the systematic outcome of strategic national planning, sustained research and development (R&D) investment, an ever-improving innovation ecosystem and fully unleashed market vitality.

At the heart of this progress is top-level design and continuous national commitment. The outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan lays out comprehensive measures to strengthen strategic scientific and technological forces, enhance enterprise-driven innovation and unleash the creativity of talented individuals. National R&D investment remains at historically high levels, with unprecedented attention devoted to basic research. In critical sectors such as BeiDou and large aircraft – both vital to national security and industrial lifelines – long-term stable government support has provided a solid foundation for success.

In addressing critical core technologies and breaking through "bottlenecks," China has successfully integrated the strengths of national research institutes, leading universities and high-tech enterprises, creating a robust synergy that drives collective innovation. Meanwhile market mechanisms have been fully respected, allowing the invisible hand of the market to play a decisive role in allocating resources.

Take the NEV industry as an example. Incentive measures such as subsidies and the dual-credit system have guided market expectations, encouraged enterprises to pursue independent R&D and fostered continuous product innovation. As a result a dynamic and competitive industrial ecosystem has emerged – one in which efficiency and innovation determine survival.

The entire innovation chain, spanning basic and applied research, technological development, engineering and industrial application, has become increasingly seamless. The deep integration of industry, academia, research and practical application has greatly accelerated the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productivity.

China's strong manufacturing base and comprehensive industrial system have provided solid support for the development and industrialization of major technological equipment. Behind the millions of components in the C919 aircraft lies the coordinated effort of more than 1,000 enterprises across 22 provinces and municipalities, along with hundreds of thousands of skilled industrial workers – a powerful demonstration of China's unparalleled capacity for industrial organization and collaboration.

Moreover China's vast domestic market serves as both a testing ground and an engine for technological advancement. The immense market scale enables rapid iteration and widespread application of new products and innovations. The extensive use of the BDS across multiple sectors as well as the swift expansion of NEVs in both public transport and private ownership has created ample room for technology refinement, cost reduction and the exploration of new business models.

Technological innovation is now reshaping China's global competitiveness. The rise of the NEV industry has strengthened China's voice in the global transition toward green and low-carbon development; the BeiDou system has established a self-reliant and secure spatiotemporal framework for national security and economic operations; and the C919 has carved out a significant position for China in the global high-end manufacturing landscape. Together these achievements have enhanced the resilience of China's economy and bolstered its strategic initiative in international competition.

For ordinary citizens, these advances translate into tangible improvements in daily life – cleaner and smarter mobility options, more accurate and reliable navigation services and the prospect of more affordable and diverse air travel in the near future. At the same time the expansive industrial chains created by these high-tech sectors have generated numerous high-quality jobs, further supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

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