A new wave of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating today. Digitalisation, intelligent development, and green growth have become the defining trends of our era. H.E. President Mohamed Muizzu has proposed advancing national modernisation through digital transformation to realise the vision of “Maldives 2.0”, underscoring the Maldives’ determination to embrace global trends and shape its future through innovation.

China’s steady progress on the path of innovation echoes this vision. Guided by the strategies of rejuvenating the nation through science and education as well as innovation-driven development, China has made major breakthroughs during the 14th Five-Year Plan period – from leading applications of large AI models such as DeepSeek to remarkable achievements in manned spaceflight, quantum computing, 5G communications, and the BeiDou navigation system. Science and technology have become the hallmark of China’s high-quality development, injecting fresh momentum into global sustainable growth.

China’s growing scientific and technological strength stems from a clear vision and systematic planning, with innovation placed at the heart of its national development strategy. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China set the goal of building the country into a global leader in science and technology by 2035. Through top-level design, China has advanced basic research and core technologies, promoted the digital and intelligent upgrading of traditional industries, and fostered emerging and future sectors. In 2024, China’s total R&D expenditure exceeded 3.6 trillion yuan – ranking second globally – with an R&D intensity of 2.68 per cent, above the EU average. With robust research capacity and rapid industrial application, China is helping shape a new global landscape of technological development.

China’s innovation vitality comes from the synergy between institutional strengths and market mechanisms. The country gives full play to the principal role of enterprises in technological innovation, forming a market-oriented innovation system with deep integration of industry, academia, and research. In 2024, the number of high-tech enterprises exceeded 500,000, up 83 per cent from 2020. That year, 524 Chinese mainland enterprises were among the world’s top 2,000 industrial R&D investors, accounting for more than one-fourth of the total. Nationwide, technology contract transactions reached 6.8 trillion yuan, with enterprises contributing over 80 per cent of technology absorption. China’s super-large domestic market of 1.4 billion people, including 400 million middle-income earners, provides vast space for new technologies and strong momentum for innovation and entrepreneurship. Scientific and technological advances are being continuously transformed into real productivity, driving sustained high-quality economic growth.

The core of innovation lies in education and talent. China regards education and talent as strategic foundations for national development and continues to increase investment in higher and vocational education. By 2024, the total number of people receiving higher education reached 250 million, with more than 5 million STEM graduates each year. A well-established innovation system allows research institutes, key laboratories, and enterprise R&D centers to work together, generating a steady stream of new achievements. Almost all engineers of DeepSeek graduated from leading domestic universities such as Tsinghua University and Peking University. Meanwhile, China’s internationalisation of higher education continues to advance, attracting large numbers of foreign students and training world-class engineers for many developing countries. This environment – valuing education, respecting talent, and encouraging innovation – has become the foundation for China’s self-reliance and strength in science and technology.

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made it clear that China will expand high-standard opening up and deepen international cooperation in science and technology. Amid the global wave of digitalisation, China and the Maldives are both exploring how technology can improve lives, protect the ocean, and create a better future. China’s rich experience in clean energy, smart islands, marine conservation, telecommunications, and the low-altitude economy offers valuable insights for the Maldives’ development. The prospects for China–Maldives cooperation are broad and promising.

Looking ahead, China stands ready to work with the Maldives to advance digital transformation, strengthen talent cultivation, and jointly promote scientific and technological innovation and economic upgrading. Together, guided by innovation, the two countries can light the voyage of development between the stars and the sea, and build a smarter, greener, and more inclusive future for all.