Gu Shengzu, vice-chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivered a keynote speech on boosting the efficiency of the country's innovation system to achieve Chinese modernization at the International Forum on Global Development and China's Modernization, which was held concurrently with the 2022 Global Advisory Board Meeting of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University in Beijing on Nov 19, 2022.

Gu said that the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) made coordinated plans and arrangements for the fundamental and strategic role of education, technology and talent in the building of a modern socialist country in all respects for the first time. He stressed that it will help further boost the development of science and technology as a primary productive force, nurture talent as a primary resource, unleash the potential of innovation as a primary driver of growth, achieve the efficient and coordinated development and systematic integration of the strategy for invigorating China through science and education, the workforce development strategy and the innovation-driven development strategy, bolster the overall performance of the national innovation system, and inject strong impetus into the realization of the country's modernization drive.

He noted that to achieve Chinese-style modernization and the building of a great modern socialist country that leads the world in terms of composite national strength and international influence, China must intensify its efforts to raise the overall performance of its national innovation system.

Specifically, the country should adhere to the principle of relying on talent to pioneer and propel development, create a talent system with international competitiveness, accelerate development of an important global talent hub, develop into an ideal habitat for science strategists, outstanding engineers and master craftsmen, give priority to the development of education, make full use of high-level and research-oriented universities in the development of innovation, strengthen the building and integration of basic disciplines, emerging disciplines and interdisciplinary subjects, improve the nation’s overall ability to nurture talent at home, and offer platforms to attract talent.

Gu emphasized that the country should also enhance its self-reliance and strength in science and technology, complete the institutional building of the Party's overall leadership in science and technology work, establish a work mechanism featuring coordination and collaboration, establish a new system for mobilizing resources nationwide to secure key and major development goals, strengthen the governance of science and technology, forge an open and innovative eco-system with global competitiveness, carry out the innovation-driven development strategy, advance the in-depth integration of the chains of innovation, industry, talent and capital, deepen integration among enterprises, universities and research institutions, push for the development of high-tech enterprises through scientific discoveries and technological innovation, and help innovative enterprises better overcome bottlenecks in their further development.