Context: China’s government announced a 6% growth target for 2021 and unveiled a five-year plan and vision for 2035 that aims to expand the country’s global footprint as a major technology power.

Details:

• The plans, unveiled at the start of the annual week-long convening of the Communist Party-controlled legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), outlined a push for China to consolidate the positions of its supply chains in key strategic industries, amid a push from some countries towards decoupling, and to significantly increase China’s spending on research and development (R&D) to achieve self-reliance in key high-tech sectors.
• Chinese Premier and second-ranked leader Li Keqiang presented the draft government work report for the year and the draft outlines of the 14th five-year plan (2021-25) and long-range objectives for 2035 to the NPC.
• The NPC is also expected to approve a major overhaul of Hong Kong’s electoral system that will see a diminishing share for directly elected legislative seats, dealing a blow to pro-democracy parties and strengthening Beijing’s control.
• The FYP said China “will take self-reliance in science and technology as strategic underpinning for national development” and “will focus on the development of strategic emerging industries including information technology, biotech and new energy”.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/china-targets-6-growth-tech-supremacy/article34001757.ece

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