"High-level technological self-reliance and self-improvement" topped the list of China's Top 10 Science and Technology Buzzwords for 2024.

Experts say the phrase reflects a growing consensus on the importance of technological advancement for the development of Chinese society.

The China Association for Science and Technology announced the list on Tuesday, along with the Top 10 Science and Technology News Events of 2024.

"High-level technological self-reliance and self-improvement is not only a concern for researchers, but is also a societal endeavor. By placing this buzzword at the top, we aim to inspire public attention toward technological innovation and encourage broader understanding and support for it," said Zhou Zhiyi, a member of the Chinese Society for Science and Technology Journalism.

The Global Innovation Index 2024, released by the World Intellectual Property Organization in September, ranked China 11th in global innovation, up from 12th in 2023. China has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the innovation index over the past decade.

"Our country has strong momentum in building science and technology innovation clusters, with 26 such clusters making it into the top 100 globally. For the second consecutive year, China has maintained its leading position in the global ranking of top science and technology clusters," said Zhou, who is also vice-president and executive editor-in-chief of China Industry News.

Among the Top 10 Science and Technology News Events of 2024, a highlight was the "three sessions of science and technology".

On June 24, the National Science and Technology Conference, the National Science and Technology Awards Conference, and the Academician Conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering were held in Beijing.

President Xi Jinping emphasized the strategic importance of science and technology, anchoring the goal of building a strong country in these fields by 2035.

Looking back on last year's domestic scientific research achievements, breakthroughs were made in the study of lunar soil samples brought back by the Chang'e 6 space mission, which received global acclaim.

In June, the Chang'e 6 lander initiated the first sample collection mission on the far side of the moon. Chinese scientists gained new insights into the moon's ancient magnetic field and volcanic history, publishing their findings internationally.

China also made significant strides in life sciences. In December, Chinese scientists led the International Human Protein Atlas Project. The publication of the project's white paper provided a deeper understanding of human proteins.

This international scientific endeavor builds on the human genome map completed in 2001 and offers new theories, technologies and methods for human health management, precise disease prevention and control, diagnosis and treatment, and scientific healthcare.

In October, China's first domestically developed mobile operating system, Huawei HarmonyOS Next, was released. It is now the world's third-largest mobile operating system, after Apple's iOS and Google's Android.

Other highlights among the top 10 scientific and technological events of 2024 include the passing of the revised Science and Technology Popularization Law and the opening of a museum dedicated to Chinese scientists.

"We focus on the technological content and innovation of the events, as well as their social impact and popular science value," said Jin Jianbin, a selection committee member and professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University.

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