BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) — China is strengthening its function as a key driver of worldwide financial progress by selling high-quality growth by means of sci-tech innovation, with officers and analysts saying the innovation drive is a boon to the world.
Speaking at the China Development Forum 2026 in March, Han Wenxiu, govt deputy director of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, mentioned China’s scientific, technological and industrial improvements can have rising world spillover results and contribute to a extra various and vibrant world.
China’s rising innovation capability has gained worldwide recognition. For the first time, the World Intellectual Property Organization ranked the nation amongst the world prime 10 in its Global Innovation Index 2025. Last yr, the nation’s complete analysis and growth (R&D) spending exceeded 3.92 trillion yuan (about 571.4 billion U.S. {dollars}).
According to analysts, the huge funding is accelerating each incremental and disruptive innovation. “Large-scale R&D expenditure not only supports iterative upgrades in existing technologies, but also creates room for frontier breakthroughs,” mentioned Wang Meng, a senior researcher at CIB Research.
In Qingdao, a coastal metropolis in east China’s Shandong Province, notable progress has been made in marine biotechnology innovation.
The Bright Moon Seaweed Science and Technology Museum showcases a wide selection of seaweed-derived merchandise, together with meals, cosmetics, medical supplies and bio-fertilizers.
One such product is ultra-pure sodium alginate, a key materials utilized in regenerative medication purposes reminiscent of cell tradition and tissue engineering. The pure polymer supplies meet the requirements for in vivo implantation to deal with situations reminiscent of tumors and coronary heart failure.
Zhang Guofang, chairman of Qingdao Bright Moon Seaweed Group, mentioned years of analysis had enabled the firm to change into the world’s second producer of implant-grade ultra-pure sodium alginate.
“Innovation across production, equipment and supply chains has improved quality while reducing costs to benefit more people,” Zhang mentioned.
Technological innovation can be reshaping agriculture, significantly in seed growth.
At the R&D middle of Shandong Shouguang Vegetable Seed Industry Group Co., Ltd., scientists use synthetic intelligence to speed up breeding. Data fashions assist predict gene features and establish fascinating crop traits, considerably shortening breeding cycles.
“China is in a period of rapid development in breeding research,” mentioned Cheng Lin, director of the middle, noting that the nation is a world chief in cutting-edge educational output in breeding, which may contribute to world meals safety.
The firm has expanded abroad, creating warmth and drought-resistant seeds for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and establishing a joint vegetable seed breeding and R&D middle in Malaysia, contributing to meals safety and fashionable agriculture in companion international locations.
China’s applied sciences and merchandise are benefiting areas throughout the world, from the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia and 5G-A telecommunications networks in the UAE to BeiDou satellite tv for pc providers in over 30 African international locations and BYD electrical buses in Chile and Colombia.
Beyond exports, China can be selling sci-tech cooperation.
In its fifteenth Five-Year Plan, China pledged to promote high-standard sci-tech opening up and cooperation, together with broader entry to main analysis infrastructure and packages for scientists worldwide.
By October 2025, China had established sci-tech cooperation ties with greater than 160 international locations and areas and joined over 200 worldwide organizations and multilateral mechanisms in the subject.
Lan Qingxin, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics, mentioned China will proceed to promote the world sharing of innovation outcomes with an open collaboration philosophy.
“Innovation results from Chinese laboratories are reaching the global market,” Lan mentioned. “This will help promote more inclusive and equitable global sci-tech governance and support global economic growth.” ■