This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Over the past 75 years, China has attached great importance to innovative development, while accelerating the scale and speed of opening up to the world. In that time, it has gradually moved to become a significant scientific and technological innovation power in the world. Innovation remains at the heart of China's modernization drive, while green is the primary color of the modernization drive. China has unswervingly taken a green and low-carbon sustainable development path, synergistically promoting high-quality socio-economic development and ecological environment protection. Chinese confidence in their culture has been boosted and is now being shared with a global audience so that Chinese wisdom can be an option to deal with the common challenges facing humanity. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of PRC, Science and Technology Daily interviewed a number of foreign experts working in China to share their stories of China's innovation, openness, culture and beauty with the world.

                                                                                                                                      The Editorial Office

                                                                                                                      Science and Technology Daily

From the successful launch of the Dongfanghong-1 satellite to the inspiring voyages of Chinese astronauts into the cosmos, China has demonstrated its commitment to innovation and progress. Notably, groundbreaking achievements like the discovery of artemisinin and the development of hybrid rice have saved countless lives and alleviated hunger around the globe.

"In just 75 years, China has swiftly emerged as a global powerhouse on the global stage, particularly in the sci-tech and educational sphere, which is remarkable," said Italian stem cell expert Francesco Faiola.

National focus on innovation

"After reading this book, I hope you can now understand why your father keeps running to China, a marvelous country," Denis Simon, distinguished fellow at the Institute for China-American Studies, wrote to his children in his first book, Technological Innovation in China: The Case of Shanghai Semiconductor Industry, published three decades ago.

Simon, who served as executive vice president at Duke Kunshan University in China, has witnessed firsthand the nation's transformation into a global innovation hub. From a nation-led emphasis on technological advancements to grassroots entrepreneurship, the country has made impressive strides in creating a robust and dynamic ecosystem for research and development.

"China is now an important part of the global knowledge system in terms of publications, cited academic papers, and patents registered," he said, highlighting the shift from quantity to quality in research outputs.

Simon attributes this remarkable growth to the willingness of Chinese leaders to engage in fundamental changes and adopt strategic thinking. This commitment to reform has driven China onto a path of rapid modernization. According to this American scholar, China has managed to bridge gaps between urban and rural areas, ensuring that the benefits of progress reach all corners of the nation by focusing on balanced and coordinated development.

Show Kuan Yeow, a Malaysian scientist specializing in wastewater treatment, is also captivated by China's innovative spirit. "China today has an R&D resource that no other country has. Its innovation ecosystem, encompassing a vast population that has lived through extraordinary transformation, can adopt innovations at a scale and pace unrivaled anywhere else globally," he said.

Show praised the nation's dedication to sustainable development, noting China's impressive achievements in balancing economic growth with environmental protection.

A vibrant innovation culture

China's vibrant research environment has made it an attractive destination for scientists and experts from around the world. Tudor Ratiu, a prominent mathematician from Switzerland found a welcoming and supportive environment for his research endeavors in China. Now, as a chair professor of Mathematics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Ratiu believes that China is well on its way to becoming a global center of innovation.

"It is astounding how well Chinese universities have done over the years," he said, attributing this progress to the country's supportive, vibrant academic environment and government-backed programs. "These programs are undeniably successful, and their success can be quantified. For example, my university has risen in leaps and bounds in global university rankings," he said.

According to an Indonesian expert, Yoslan Nur, an officer of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, China's contribution to global innovation is not confined to its technological capacity alone. He lauded China's strategic deployment of high-tech zones, sci-tech incubators in universities, and support for small and medium enterprises in fostering a knowledge-driven economy.

Achievements in vocational education

In addition to its advancements in innovation culture, higher education and research, China has also made significant progress in vocational education. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the country has built the world's most extensive vocational education system, offering a model uniquely suited to its development needs.

Someone who played a key role in the Australia-China Vocational Education Project in Chongqing from 2004 to 2007 is Antoine Barnaart, director of the Confucius Institute at Queensland University of Technology. "It was one of the best times in my professional life," he recalled, noting how motivated and eager his Chinese colleagues were to learn. He was particularly impressed by the substantial financial and policy support provided by the Chinese government, both at the central and municipal levels.

"Now, in many areas of China, I believe vocational education is world-class," Barnaart said. He pointed to the balance between practical and theoretical training in China's vocational education system as a key factor in its success.