Xi Jinping Champions Technological Self-Reliance During Strategic Visit to Hefei’s Science Hub

During his visit to the science-focused city of Hefei, which was previously impoverished, China's Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of advancing in high technology. According to statements made on his trip to the capital of Anhui, now recognized as a hub of innovation, the president asserted that high-tech development must be earned through effort and cannot simply be requested.

"Science and technology are at the forefront of driving China-style modernization, and technological innovation is the essential route to take," Xi remarked while touring Hefei Binhu Science City, a leading research and innovation center in the capital of Anhui province, on Thursday.

"Advanced technological development cannot simply be requested; we need to hasten the achievement of top-tier technological independence and enhancement," the state news agency Xinhua reported Xi as stating during his visit, which occurred as part of an inspection tour in the province.

Xi also encouraged Anhui to further develop its position as a major center for technological innovation, a focal point for new industries, a leader in reform and opening initiatives, and as an area committed to a holistic green transformation in its economic and social development.

Xi's comments arrive as China intensifies its focus on technological progress as part of a strategic pivot towards what it refers to as "new quality productive forces," moving away from its former reliance on an export-driven economic model, amidst an ongoing technological rivalry with the United States, which has aimed to limit China's access to advanced technology.