General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a report at the beginning of the 20th party congress of the CPC on Oct.16, where he laid out an ambitious agenda for reaching the goal of transforming China into a modern socialist society in all respects by 2050. The report was also a clear message to the other nations of the world, in particular those in the West that have initially jumped on board the misbegotten campaign by the Biden Administration to restrict China’s development in high technology, that China would continue on its development path.
In his comments, President Xi was adamant that China will not be deterred by this clumsy and spiteful attempt to deprive China of its right to technological development. “China’s development must remain in its own hands,” Xi said, adding “we can’t be swayed or cowed by pressure.” “We will surmount obstacles on the road ahead.” China’s continued reliance on the domestic market as the primary driver of growth in its dual circulation policy, its emphasis on the pursuit of breakthroughs in science and technology, and its determination to remain open to the outside world, provides the means for China to overcome all obstacles to its development.
Xi made clear that there would be an upgrading of the mechanisms for advancing science in China. “We must regard science as our primary productive force, talent as our primary resource, and innovation as our primary driver of growth.” Technology is a result of human creativity and its subsequent application in the productive process. Technological advances remain “secrets” only for a time until another creative mind discovers their origin. The speed of China’s development of technology can be slowed down through such restrictive measures, but it cannot be stopped.
