China unveils three-step strategy for innovation-driven development

China on Thursday unveiled a guideline for a national strategy that maps out three major steps to promote the country's innovation-driven development.

The document, jointly published by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, pledges to build China into an innovative nation by 2020, and an international leader in innovation by 2030.

The blueprint vows to make China a world powerhouse of scientific and technological innovation by 2050, the third step of the strategy.

Innovation-driven development requires making innovation the primary driving force for development, according to the document.

It also calls for integration of innovation in scientific and technological fields as well as in systems, management, and business models.

The guideline demands efforts to construct a new driving force for development and to build a national innovative system.

It also highlights quality and efficiency of development and the leading role of innovative factors.

Moreover, it urges promoting the talent pool and stimulating mass innovation to implement the strategy, while pledging greater investment in innovation.

The document puts forward missions for developing technology in information networks, modern agriculture, energy, environmental protection, oceanic and space industries, and health and service industries.

Research in fields related to the country's strategic demands and which helps solve bottlenecks in the country's long-term development and national security should be strengthened, it said. Endi