(China Economic Roundtable) Innovation, green development fuel China's growth in past five years

BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- China has achieved remarkable progress in high-quality development over the past five years, powered by continuous innovation and a sustained shift toward green growth, experts said at the latest episode of China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency.

According to Xiang Wei, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission, innovation has become a key growth engine for China during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). By fostering new quality productive forces adapted to local conditions, the country has deepened integration between scientific research and industrial application, yielding substantial outcomes, he said.

Innovation input has grown significantly. Last year, China's research and development (R&D) spending had increased by nearly 50 percent compared with the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. R&D intensity increased to 2.69 percent, approaching the average level of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, while the country's number of R&D personnel ranked first globally.

Breakthroughs have also emerged across key technological fields. Advancements were achieved in nuclear power, high-speed rail, and marine engineering equipment. In areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, manned spaceflight, and deep-space exploration, China has delivered pioneering breakthroughs, setting multiple global milestones, Xiang noted.

China has also achieved notable progress in green development over the past five years, said He Jianwu with the Development Research Center of the State Council. Notably, renewable energy installation has historically surpassed that of thermal power, a landmark shift for a country long reliant on coal.

The new energy vehicle sector also stands out, He said, noting that by July last year, more than half of new passenger cars sold in China were new energy vehicles, highlighting the country's green transition efforts. ■