The Ice and Snow World in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province. (PHOTO: CFP)

BY SHI Zhaohui

Located in northeast China, Heilongjiang province boasts a vast stretches of fertile land and rich natural resources.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping has always cared about the development of Heilongjiang. He has visited the province twice and issued important instructions on the revitalization and development of the province and northeast China at large.

Keeping in mind those instructions, the province has adhered to the innovation-driven development strategy, by employing its advantage of rich sci-tech resources to enhance the innovation capacity and realize the comprehensive revitalization goal.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the province won 64 national science and technology awards, among which Academician Liu Yongtan of Harbin Institute of Technology won the 2018 State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, China's highest scientific award.

Sci-tech achievements of the province have supported the country's major projects, such as the manned spaceflight, Chang'e lunar probe, Mars exploration, and the deep-sea submersible "Fendouzhe."

Through speeding up the establishment of major sci-tech innovation platforms, such as national sci-tech facilities and national high-level laboratories, Heilongjiang continues to reinforce its innovation capability.

As pointed out by President Xi, talent is the key to revitalizing northeast China. Not long ago, the province rolled out a series of policy measures to strengthen and improve talent-related work for the new era. With a global vision and open attitude, it endeavors to build world-class platforms to gather excellent professionals from home and abroad and let them fully display their talent.

At present, by virtue of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, Heilongjiang is making great efforts to develop four new engines of economic development, namely, digital economy, biological economy, ice and snow economy, and creative design. It has formulated and implemented relevant industrial development plans and supporting policies, in order to achieve rapid development in frontier sci-tech areas and industries through innovative way of thinking.

Regional innovation areas are built with high standards, including the Harbin, Daqing, Qiqihar National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zones, Harbin National New-Generation AI Innovation and Development Pilot Zone, and Jiamusi National Agricultural High-Tech Industry Demonstration Zone. The development path, which begins from strong sci-tech capacity to strong enterprises, industries, and economy, is taking shape.

The commercialization of sci-tech achievements in universities, research institutes and key enterprises has been implemented, while efforts are also being made to strengthen the effective connection of innovation chains with industrial, service and capital chains. This is so as to realize high-level, efficient creation and transformation of sci-tech achievements, thus making sci-tech innovation the major contributor to revitalization and development of the province.

"Enchanting snow and ice scenery of northern China is only found in Heilongjiang." Heilongjiang has extended an open invitation to people from around the world to consider the province as a land of opportunity.

The author is deputy director of Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology and director of the Provincial Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

Located in northeast China, Heilongjiang province boasts a vast stretches of fertile land and rich natural resources.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping has always cared about the development of Heilongjiang. He has visited the province twice and issued important instructions on the revitalization and development of the province and northeast China at large.

Keeping in mind those instructions, the province has adhered to the innovation-driven development strategy, by employing its advantage of rich sci-tech resources to enhance the innovation capacity and realize the comprehensive revitalization goal.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the province won 64 national science and technology awards, among which Academician Liu Yongtan of Harbin Institute of Technology won the 2018 State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, China's highest scientific award.

Sci-tech achievements of the province have supported the country's major projects, such as the manned spaceflight, Chang'e lunar probe, Mars exploration, and the deep-sea submersible "Fendouzhe."

Through speeding up the establishment of major sci-tech innovation platforms, such as national sci-tech facilities and national high-level laboratories, Heilongjiang continues to reinforce its innovation capability.

As pointed out by President Xi, talent is the key to revitalizing northeast China. Not long ago, the province rolled out a series of policy measures to strengthen and improve talent-related work for the new era. With a global vision and open attitude, it endeavors to build world-class platforms to gather excellent professionals from home and abroad and let them fully display their talent.

At present, by virtue of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, Heilongjiang is making great efforts to develop four new engines of economic development, namely, digital economy, biological economy, ice and snow economy, and creative design. It has formulated and implemented relevant industrial development plans and supporting policies, in order to achieve rapid development in frontier sci-tech areas and industries through innovative way of thinking.

Regional innovation areas are built with high standards, including the Harbin, Daqing, Qiqihar National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zones, Harbin National New-Generation AI Innovation and Development Pilot Zone, and Jiamusi National Agricultural High-Tech Industry Demonstration Zone. The development path, which begins from strong sci-tech capacity to strong enterprises, industries, and economy, is taking shape.

The commercialization of sci-tech achievements in universities, research institutes and key enterprises has been implemented, while efforts are also being made to strengthen the effective connection of innovation chains with industrial, service and capital chains. This is so as to realize high-level, efficient creation and transformation of sci-tech achievements, thus making sci-tech innovation the major contributor to revitalization and development of the province.

"Enchanting snow and ice scenery of northern China is only found in Heilongjiang." Heilongjiang has extended an open invitation to people from around the world to consider the province as a land of opportunity.

The author is deputy director of Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology and director of the Provincial Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.