China’s home-grown large passenger aircraft C919 makes a rehearsal flight to prepare for the upcoming Singapore Airshow in Singapore, Feb. 18, 2024. （PHOTO: XINHUA）

Edited by TANG Zhexiao

In our fast paced world people have come to rely on science and technology not only for convenience, but also for a better life. Now, as one of the world's most inventive countries, the impact of China's sci-tech innovation in a variety of sectors is playing an important role in improving the well-being of its people.

A major recent achievement is the C919, the first jet-type trunk airliner independently developed by China in accordance with international airworthiness standards, of which China owns the independent intellectual property rights, has boosted the country's competitiveness in the global aviation market.

Data from Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China showed that as of May 27, 2024 the five C919 jetliners of China Eastern Airlines had completed 2,181 flights, accumulating 6,090 flight hours across three routes, and had transported over 276,000 passengers in the past year.

From air to sea, on December 24, 2023 China's first domestically built large cruise ship, named Adora Magic City,set sail on a trial voyage from the Shanghai. This journey marked a breakthrough for the country's high-end manufacturing and the dream of Chinese people boarding a domestically produced large cruise ship and exploring the world at sea became a reality.

When it comes to trains, China owns the world’s longest and most extensively used high-speed railway, with a total length of 45,000 kilometers as of 2023, according to China Railways.

At a base in north China, researchers are pursuing a futuristic means of transportation, an ultra-high-speed maglev train. Adopting magnetic levitation technology and traveling in low-vacuum tubes, this maglev train could reach speeds of up to 1,000 km per hour if successful.

Meanwhile in the energy sector, China has emerged as a leader in renewable energy, with solar photovoltaic capacity installations last year as much as the rest of the world combined in 2022.

Hualong One, also known as HPR1000, was put into commercial operation in 2021. It marked a milestone for the development of the country’s nuclear power, making China the fourth country to master its indigenous Generation III nuclear power technology following the US, France and Russia. The electricity generation of Hualong One unit is equivalent to reducing the consumption of standard coal by 3.12 million tons and emissions of carbon dioxide by 8.16 million tons per year.

After the world’s first 16 MW offshore wind turbine came online in July 2023, in a global first, an 18-megawatt semi-direct drive offshore wind turbine was successfully installed in a coastal test base in south China's Guangdong province on June 5. Its average annual power generation is up to 72 GWH, enough to power around 36,000 households.

Giving high-tech direction, China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) played an important role in the process of achieving mass application of satellite communication. After completing global coverage in July 2020, China has accelerated the BDS applications for civil use, tapping into the expensive satellite technology for the mass consumer market. By 2035, the country plans to build a next-generation BDS-4 system with greater precision and global reach.

Technologies such as big data and BDS have also been widely applied in crop production, agricultural technology is a key driving force to boost China's agricultural modernization.

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs showed the mechanization rate of crop cultivation and harvesting nationwide has exceeded 73 percent to date, and the number of agricultural machinery and equipment equipped with BDS has reached 1.8 million units.

5G tech is also flourishing nationwide. A 5G base station established at an altitude of 6,500 meters on Mount Qomolangma in April 2020, makes it the highest-altitude 5G such station in the world. Two months later, the country's first underground 5G network in Shanxi province set a world record as the deepest underground 5G network.

Today, with over 3.7 million 5G base stations installed nationwide, the large-scale application of 5G in China has greatly benefited both individuals and businesses.

Bringing significant convenience and opportunities, China’s sci-tech innovations will continue to improve the well-being of an increasing number of people, both Chinese and others worldwide.