"New quality productive forces." That phrase is gaining attention across China, especially in the context of the nation's economic upgrade. The phrase was first put forward by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in September 2023, during his inspection tour of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. 

With innovation playing the leading role, new quality productive forces mean advanced productivity that is freed from traditional economic growth mode and productivity development paths, features high-tech, high efficiency and high quality, and comes in line with the new development philosophy, Xi said during the group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, in January. 

New quality productive forces are driven by revolutionary technological breakthroughs, innovative allocation of production factors, and deep industrial transformation and upgrading, Xi noted. Xi highlighted the concept again on March 5, when he participated in a deliberation during the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), stressing developing new quality productive forces based on local conditions. He called for efforts to step up innovation, foster emerging industries, adopt forward-thinking plans for developing future-oriented industries and improve the modern industrial system. 

Women from all segments of society, especially those in science and technology, have been greatly inspired by Xi's important discourses, and they have vowed to hold up "half the sky," make contributions to the development of new quality productive forces, and help advance Chinese modernization.

Voices

Deep Understanding of New Quality Productive Forces 

"The proposal to develop new quality productive forces sent a clear signal of innovation throughout Chinese society, and it clarified the direction of our efforts to promote industrial innovation, with scientific and technological innovation, and to build competitive advantages through industrial upgrading. It also provided action guidelines to ensure better implementation of the new development philosophy, the fostering of the new development paradigm, and the promotion of high-quality development. Science and technology must be regarded as our primary productive force, talent must be regarded as our primary resource, and innovation must be regarded as our primary driver of growth. Colleges and universities make up the critical junction for science, technology, talent and innovation. We must give full play to the strength and role of colleges and universities in accelerating the development of new quality productive forces. Colleges and universities should focus on the construction of high-level basic research platforms, including national laboratories and cross-disciplinary research platforms. Colleges and universities should also strengthen application-oriented basic research, promote original and disruptive innovation, and strengthen the cultivation of top-notch innovative talents." 

— Chen Xiaohong, academician with Chinese Academy of Engineering, secretary of the Party committee of Hunan University of Technology and Business 

"New quality productive forces place higher requirements on laborers, the means of labor and the subject of labor. Without the accumulation of, and increase in, human capital, and without high-caliber labor forces that meet the needs of modern technological progress and industrial development, it will be impossible to foster new quality productive forces. The means of labor, with a higher technological level, is the dynamic source of new quality productive forces. The new round of technological revolution has generated a number of new technologies, and new means of production, which are smarter, safer and low-carbon, with high efficiency. The revolution has further released labor and enhanced the efficiency of production. The subject of labor, which covers a wider range, is the material foundation for new quality productive forces. Current exploration in the frontier fields of technological and industrial development has greatly enriched the variety of the subject of labor. The border of production has been expanded, and new production spaces have been formed." 

— Chen Binkai, head of the School of Economics and assistant to president of Central University of Finance and Economics 

"New quality productive forces mean advanced productivity that is freed from traditional productivity development paths, and features high-tech, high efficiency and high quality. As for high-tech, new quality productive forces, based on major scientific discoveries or technological breakthroughs, rely on basic research, and original and disruptive innovations. New quality productive forces represent the latest trend and direction in global sci-tech and industrial development. The constant application of new technologies in production and logistics results in higher production efficiency, and high-quality production factors will flow to key fields. New quality productive forces come in line with the new development philosophy, and are able to meet the ever-growing needs of the people for better lives. New quality productive forces will surpass traditional productivity, in terms of both quantity and quality." 

— Qiao Biao, vice-president of China Center for Information Industry Development

Women's Role in Developing New Quality Productive Forces 

"To build a highland of scientific and technological innovation, we cannot do without the strong support of major scientific and technological infrastructure. Computing power means productivity, creativity, competitiveness and influence. We should promote the transformation of computing power into new quality productive forces, and advance the high-quality development in Guangdong Province and the Greater Bay Area." 

— Lu Yutong, director of the National Supercomputer Center in Guangzhou, in South China's Guangdong Province 

"In the context of strengthening sci-tech innovation, especially original and disruptive innovation, scientific research has gradually changed from the previous freestyle exploration to targeting specific application goals, such as national strategies and enterprise needs. That change is conducive to the combination of basic research and practical application." 

— Yao Jinping, a researcher with Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), also secretary of the general Party branch of the State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics 

"To develop new quality productive forces, we should keep advancing sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels. We need to work hard in developing key and core technologies, strengthening original and disruptive sci-tech innovation, and fostering new momentum for the development of new quality productive forces." 

— Ding Jie, deputy director of the non-destructive testing department of Shanghai Research Institute of Materials Co., Ltd. 

"The development of new quality productive forces requires revolutionary technological breakthroughs, and innovative allocation of production factors. Women in science and technology should seize opportunities to work hard, to strive to accelerate the cultivation and development of new quality productive forces, through scientific and technological innovation, and to inject strong impetus into fostering the new development paradigm, promoting high-quality development and advancing Chinese modernization." 

— Liu Di, president of Heilongjiang Women's Association for Science and Technology, and a researcher with Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences 

"To foster new quality productive forces, we should dare to innovate and use science and technology to promote social development. I am surrounded by many women, who learn new technologies and new things, and who stimulate the innovation vitality of themselves. 'She Power' plays an important role in promoting the development of new quality productive forces."

— Song Xueying, president of Tianjin H-Chip Technology Group Corporation 

"The laborer is the most active factor in the productive forces. Nowadays, women are well-educated and have strong creative vitality and innovation abilities. Many women are talents, who can help develop new quality productive forces, and they are highly skilled talents, who are proficient in new quality means of production. We need to enable more women in China to actively participate in the development of new quality productive forces." 

— Li Mingliang, professor at Tianjin Foreign Studies University

Her Stories

Helping TCM Flourish in New Era

Click the photo and read the story of Liu Juyan

"My original aspiration is saving people's lives, and my mission is boosting the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry through sci-tech innovation," says Liu Juyan, deputy general manager and chief engineer of Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited (GPHL). 

Accelerating AI Integration with Advantageous Industries

Click the photo and read the story of Zhao Xiaoguang

Zhao Xiaoguang, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a researcher with the Institute of Automation, under CAS, has contributed wisdom and strength to the development of intelligent robot technology in China. 

New Quality Productive Forces Boost Green Development of Steel Industry

Click the photo and read the story of Qinggele Jirigele

Qinggele Jirigele is chief technical expert with the Research Institute of Technology of Shougang Group Co., Ltd. She has long been engaged in the research and development of technology to boost green manufacturing of steel. 

Cultivating New Farmers, Developing New Quality Agricultural Productive Forces

Click the photo and read the story of Wei Qiao

As president of both Yongxing Agricultural Machinery Mechanization Professional Cooperative and Jiangsu Runguo Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., Wei Qiao has been contributing — with advanced ideas and modern entrepreneurial skills — to the rural revitalization of her hometown. 

Developing AGI, Promoting Application of Sci-Tech Achievements

Click the photo and read the story of Dong Le

Dong Le, executive vice-director of the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence, has been engaged in artificial intelligence, pattern recognition, and autonomous robotics research for more than 10 years. She has both witnessed and experienced the development of artificial general intelligence in China. 

Photos from Interviewees 

(Women of China English Monthly May 2024)

Editor: Wang Shasha