Chinese President Xi Jinping has consistently emphasized the importance of scientific and technological independence as a national priority. He visited a Beijing information technology park in February 2026—the first inspection tour of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period—and said the experience strengthened his confidence in the country’s innovation capacity. Over recent years, Xi toured multiple research institutions and manufacturing sites, urging stronger domestic control over core technologies and original research. At a July 8 conference in Beijing that combined national science awards and academy assemblies, Xi stated that one of the seven major economic and social objectives for the new Five-Year Plan is achieving a significantly higher level of indigenous technological capability and robustness. He urged accelerated efforts toward China’s 2035 goal of becoming a global science leader, reflecting the strategic importance of this target for national development.