(Professor Zheng Changzhong’s commentary en route to the Palace Museum, May 18, 2025)
Good afternoon, everyone! Thank you for participating in this morning’s intensive itinerary. This morning, we first explored the Mutianyu Great Wall, followed by a visit to Huairou Science City located around Yanqi Lake. As one of Beijing’s key four original science and technology hubs, this science city focuses on basic scientific research and global frontier fields, aiming to become a top global research hub in the future. Here, large numbers of scientists are engaged in world-leading research projects, demonstrating China’s strategic layout in scientific and technological innovation.
China has undergone profound changes from industrialization to digitalization during its modernization process. As the world’s largest industrial manufacturer, China has achieved remarkable progress in technology, but shortcomings still exist. Currently, a new productive forces revolution centered on digital technology is reshaping the global landscape. China regards scientific and technological innovation as the core driving force for high-quality development, promoting the agglomeration of scientific and technological elements through carriers such as science cities and industrial parks to form integrated innovation effects.
The key to technological innovation lies in talent, and the foundation of talent cultivation lies in education. In recent years, China has continuously advanced reforms in its education system, establishing a full-chain innovation mechanism from basic education to higher education. Take higher education as an example: universities closely align with national strategies and market demands to dynamically optimize their professional portfolios. Since 2012, colleges and universities nationwide have canceled or suspended over 12,000 undergraduate programs while adding over 21,000 new undergraduate programs in emerging fields. Frontline areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and integrated circuits have become key development directions. Universities enhance the adaptability of talent cultivation to technological and industrial changes by establishing interdisciplinary majors and deepening “AI+” empowerment. For instance, my institution, Fudan University, offered over 100 AI courses in the 2024-2025 academic year, covering basic theories, applied practices, and interdisciplinary integration, requiring all students to receive AI training to ensure the younger generation’s competitiveness in the tech wave. Such educational reforms that rapidly respond to contemporary needs reflect China’s determination to cultivate “strategic talents for the future.”
China’s scientific and technological innovation system consists of three main bodies: First, national research institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and national laboratories, which undertake the construction of major national scientific and technological infrastructure, basic research tasks, and common technology research and development; Second, research universities such as Tsinghua University and Fudan University, which focus on basic research and interdisciplinary innovation, tackle frontier fields, promote industry-university-research integration, and deliver high-end talent to the innovation system; Third, technology enterprises such as Huawei and SMIC, which serve as the main body of technological innovation, lead applied research and commercialization, quickly transform laboratory achievements into products and services through market-oriented R&D investments, and in turn drive demand for basic research. These three entities collaborate through platforms such as science cities and industrial parks to form a complete chain of “basic research—application development—industrial implementation,” effectively improving the efficiency of scientific and technological innovation.
To stimulate innovation vitality, China has introduced a series of policies to support scientific and technological workers, especially young talent. First, livelihood security: cities have built affordable rental housing, provided low-cost or free accommodation, and addressed issues such as household registration and children’s education for talent; Second, international cooperation: opening its arms to attract global talent and sharing research resources and policy dividends; Third, institutional innovation: coordinating national resources through ministries such as the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education, implementing large scientific programs, and promoting cross-regional collaborative innovation.
The above is an introduction to China’s education, technology, and talent landscape. Throughout the process of technological development, it can be seen that China not only unleashes the diverse strengths of various enterprises and institutions to promote innovation and development but also gives play to the state’s coordination role, thus forming a “unity in diversity” model of technological development. In fact, “unity in diversity” is not only evident in scientific and technological innovation but also runs through China’s political, economic, social, and cultural development. This cultural gene did not emerge in modern times but was formed during China’s five-thousand-year historical development.
The Palace Museum (also known as the Forbidden City) we are about to visit was the living and working place of ancient Chinese emperors and the political center of ancient China. Through this visit, you can first experience this magnificent ancient architectural complex. After the visit, I will interpret the political genes behind it and its internal relationship with the “unity in diversity” cultural gene.
Thank you for listening! After a short rest, we will arrive at the Palace Museum to start a new exploration.
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.