NPC deputy: Core technologies key to navigating decoupling pressures

China needs to develop its own core capabilities and take bold, all-encompassing actions to achieve decisive breakthroughs in key technological bottlenecks, said Pan Jiaofeng, a deputy to the National People's Congress and president of the Institutes of Science and Development at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

He made the remarks during an exclusive interview with China Perspective when discussing the issue of "decoupling".

Pan noted that the push for decoupling is not initiated by China. "Decoupling isn't something we're pushing for. It's being imposed upon us," he said.

According to Pan, some countries are attempting to separate from sectors they see as the most vital and core, while maintaining links only in lower-end segments, in an effort to keep China at the lower end of global innovation and industrial chains.

To address these challenges, China must strengthen its technological foundation and enhance its independent innovation capacity, he said.

This requires determined efforts to overcome key technological bottlenecks while also exploring new frontiers that could shape future competitive advantages, and engage in setting new rules for emerging industries, Pan added.

Pan emphasized that China has always maintained an open attitude toward international cooperation.

"The question is whether others are willing to cooperate," he said, adding that once China has greater control over its most critical technologies, more opportunities for cooperation will naturally emerge.

"Staying focused on our own path and handling our own matters well is key," Pan said.

Xu Yadi and Dilinazi Dilimulati contributed to this story.