China to empower innovation, target social needs in 2026 sci-tech push: minister

In 2026, China’s science and know-how efforts will target pressing social needs and empower innovation entities to drive the event of recent high quality productive forces, in accordance to Science and Technology Minister Yin Hejun.

The Central Economic Work Conference held in December 2025 recognized innovation-driven growth and the cultivation of recent development drivers as key priorities for China’s financial agenda in 2026.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Yin stated that the Ministry of Science and Technology will give attention to the strategic objective of constructing a robust nation in science and know-how, adhere to innovation-driven growth, strengthen strategic planning, improve central-local coordination and inter-departmental collaboration, and enhance the general effectiveness of the nationwide innovation system.

“We will focus on the urgent needs of economic and social development, deploy and implement major national sci-tech projects, and strengthen original innovation and breakthroughs in key core technologies. We will reinforce the leading role of enterprises in sci-tech innovation, support the cultivation of leading sci-tech enterprises, accelerate the efficient transformation and application of major sci-tech achievements, promote sci-tech innovation in financial services, and promote the mutual integration and coordinated development of sci-tech innovation and industrial innovation to support the construction of a modern industrial system,” stated the minister.

The Global Innovation Index 2025 report, launched in September 2025, exhibits that China has 24 innovation clusters among the many world’s prime 100, rating first globally. The Central Economic Work Conference proposed the event of worldwide sci-tech innovation facilities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

“Leveraging the leading role of Beijing and Shanghai, we will drive coordinated development and complementary advantages among the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta, strengthening resource sharing, joint talent cultivation, and joint platform construction. Simultaneously, we will promote the alignment of rules and mechanisms among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, deepen cooperation in sci-tech innovation within the Greater Bay Area, and build a global hub for sci-tech innovation,” he stated.

The fifteenth Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) proposal known as on related departments to promote expertise cultivation in the training and sci-tech sectors and to speed up the event of a nationwide strategic expertise pool.

“We will leverage national-level major sci-tech missions and innovation platforms to accelerate the gathering and cultivation of top-tier leading sci-tech talents. Focusing on sci-tech innovation, industrial development, and national strategic needs, we will make extraordinary arrangements for urgently needed disciplines and specialties, deepen the integration of science and education, as well as industry and education, and emphasize the discovery and cultivation of young sci-tech talents. We will deepen reforms in project review, institutional evaluation, talent assessment, and income distribution, facilitate talent exchange channels between universities, research institutes, and enterprises, and fully stimulate the innovation and creativity of the vast number of personnel in the sci-tech sector,” Yin stated.

Demonstrators from civil teams, labor unions and different communities in South Africa rallied outdoors the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg on Friday, denouncing U.S. unilateral navy actions in opposition to Venezuela and voicing solidarity with the Latin American nation.

They gathered alongside the road in entrance of the consulate, carrying banners that learn “Hands Off Venezuela” and “Stop Imperialism,” chanting slogans in opposition to U.S. hegemony and aggression.

“We are here to protest the U.S. threats to global peace, the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro Moros of Venezuela, which was done in violation of international law, in violation of territorial integrity of Venezuela, of course, in violation of national sovereignty of Venezuela,” stated Solly Afrika Mapaila, common secretary of the South African Communist Party.

In the early hours of Jan. 3, the United States carried out a navy strike in opposition to Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse, taking them to the United States.

Some protesters stated the disaster in Venezuela exhibits how geopolitical struggles have direct and instant results on strange individuals’s lives.

“Venezuela belongs to the people of Venezuela and nobody else. For American belligerent and colonial aggression, quite frankly, is not just something very distant. Never before have questions of geopolitics been of immediate and direct relevance and direct and immediate impacts on the day-to-day lives of ordinary people, as you are seeing today,” stated Mametlwe Sebei, president of the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA).

Placards on the rally blended English and Spanish slogans, whereas some demonstrators sang liberation songs from South Africa’s anti-apartheid period to categorical solidarity. Passing motorists slowed in entrance of the consulate, honking in help.

Defying the summer time warmth, the gang remained spirited and resolute, their chants echoing alongside the road in a transparent name for an finish to overseas interference and respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty.