Xi urges tech self-reliance, targets gaps during Beijing visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday underscored the strategic importance of science and technology self-reliance during an inspection tour of a national information technology innovation park in Beijing, urging faster progress to address what he described as key weaknesses in China’s innovation ecosystem.

Focus on strategic autonomy

According to state media, Xi said strengthening domestic capabilities in science and technology is central to China’s long-term development goals and to building a modern socialist country. He called on institutions and enterprises to pool top-tier resources, prioritize major national projects, and channel efforts toward areas where China still faces structural or technological gaps.

Innovation drive in Beijing

During the visit, Xi reviewed a range of IT applications and innovation projects and received briefings on Beijing’s plans to expand its role as an international science and technology innovation hub. He also toured exhibitions highlighting recent research achievements and held discussions with scientists and executives from technology firms operating in the capital.

Broader context and global talent flows

Xi’s remarks come as China continues to attract researchers from Western countries, with several scientists relocating from the United States, Canada and Europe in recent years. Earlier in 2025, Xi visited a major artificial intelligence incubator in Shanghai, calling on the city to take a leading position in AI development. From Türkiye’s perspective, analysts view China’s emphasis on technological self-sufficiency as part of a wider global trend in which major economies seek to secure supply chains, innovation capacity and strategic autonomy in critical technologies.