建設創新型國家

To Construct an Innovative Country

A key target of China's development underscoring the role of scientific innovation in furthering the country's social and economic growth.

In 1999, then president Jiang Zemin pointed out that innovation in science and technology was a decisive factor in a country's progress.

In January 2006, President Hu Jintao officially put forward the target of constructing China into an innovative country by 2020. Innovation in science and technology should be the key engine driving China's development. By then, economic growth supported by scientific progress should be 60 percent of GDP and expenditure on research and development should be 2.5 percent of GDP.

To this end, an Outline of the National Program for Long- and Medium-Term Scientific and Technological Development (2006-2020) was drafted as the key guideline and efforts are being made to carry it out.