China must improve core technology innovation, says Xi

[July 13, 2018]  BEIJING (Reuters) - China must improve its core technology innovation, President Xi Jinping told a top government decision-making body on Friday, saying it was key to national security and high-quality economic development.

China's President Xi Jinping attends a signing ceremony during Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China June 10, 2018. REUTERS/Aly Song

The country should have a sense of urgency as it works to boost China's technology innovation capabilities, the group said, according to a readout after the meeting, Xinhua news agency reported.

The group said China will step up intellectual property rights protection and seek expanded opening up in the science and technology sector, according to the report.

China and the United States are locked in a heated trade dispute, with the U.S. pressuring Beijing to make major changes to its trade, technology transfer and industrial subsidy policies.

(Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk; Editing by Nick Macfie)

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.