According to the WeChat public account "China Embassy in South Korea", an exclusive interview with Ambassador Dai Bing was published in the Korean Daily on June 10. Ambassador Dai Bing discussed his views on China's technological development, Sino-US relations, China-Korea relations, and China-Korea technological cooperation. He emphasized that China is accelerating its efforts to achieve high-level technological self-reliance and independence. China and Korea have leading technologies in the global context, each with its own strengths. Therefore, it is necessary to actively expand and deepen cooperation to achieve complementary advantages and mutual benefit and win-win results. The full text of the interview is as follows:
China has always attached great importance to the role of science and technology in economic and social development. In the 1980s, Mr. Deng Xiaoping proposed that "science and technology are the primary productive force." In the 1990s, China introduced the strategy of rejuvenating the country through education and science. The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012 placed scientific and technological innovation at the core of the country's development efforts. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2022 further set the goal of achieving high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology by 2035, and establishing a strong science and technology nation. The "15th Five-Year Plan" outline implemented this year further emphasized the importance of "accelerating high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology."
Overall, China's technological development has its own characteristics, and it also demonstrates advantages in terms of systems and policies: First, it fully leverages the advantages of the new national system, creating a powerful synergy for promoting scientific and technological innovation; second, it promotes the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, helping to develop new types of productive forces; third, it comprehensively reforms the mechanisms and systems of science and technology, fully stimulating the vitality of innovation and creativity; fourth, it integrates the development of education, science, and technology, building a competitive advantage in talent; fifth, it earnestly practices the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, promoting open cooperation in science and technology.
Through relentless efforts, China's science and technology industry has developed rapidly, and its technological strength has reached a new level. By 2025, China's Global Innovation Index ranking has risen to the tenth place. The total investment in research and development across society exceeds 3.92 trillion yuan, with the intensity of R&D investment reaching 2.8%. Of this, nearly 280 billion yuan is invested in basic research, accounting for 7.08% of total R&D investment, marking a record high. From the regular operation of the "Tiangong" space station to the successful completion of the 10,000-meter sea test by "Haidou-1", from the commercial flight of the C919 large aircraft to the global popularity of new energy vehicles, and from the continuous iteration of AI models like DeepSeek to the increasingly advanced embodied intelligent robots, China has continuously produced significant scientific and technological innovations that benefit both China and the world.
China has a deep understanding that technology is the primary productive force, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the driving force. It always regards talent cultivation as a key factor in building a strong technological nation. Over the years, the Chinese government has continuously increased investment in education, promoted the spirit of scientists, and inspired and guided young talents to pursue truth and strive for excellence. It provides continuous and stable support, guarantees, and incentives for scientific researchers and innovation teams in various ways. Today, China's average years of education for the working-age population has reached 11.05 years, with over 5 million graduates in STEM fields each year. The country ranks first globally in terms of the total number of scientific and technological human resources and R&D personnel. This strongly supports national, local, corporate, and individual innovation efforts.
We understand that technological innovation is a long, complex, and challenging process. It is never an easy journey, nor can it be achieved overnight. We adhere to the principle of "no matter where one comes from, no matter their background, we encourage experimentation and innovation." We tolerate innovation failures and patiently support the growth of companies. I believe this is a crucial reason why cutting-edge technology companies like Hangzhou's "Six Little Dragons" (Deep Search, Yushu Technology, etc.) have been able to emerge. These companies and talents have not only achieved their own development through innovation, but also made significant contributions to national development and human progress.
The United States is implementing unilateral sanctions and imposing restrictions on Chinese technology, which violates international law and market rules. China firmly opposes this. The real intention of the United States is to block China's path to technological advancement, deprive China of its legitimate development rights, and maintain its own technological dominance. This not only seriously damages the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises but also undermines the stability and security of global critical supply chains. Moreover, the United States' misuse of "extensive jurisdiction" harms the interests of third parties, including South Korea, ultimately harming the interests of the United States itself.
History has repeatedly shown that restrictions and repression cannot stop China’s technological progress. Instead, they only strengthen China’s determination and ability to achieve high-level technological self-reliance. Despite years of technological restrictions imposed by the United States against China, China’s high-tech industries have continued to develop at a rapid pace. In 2025, exports of high-tech products in China increased by 13.2%. The export value of integrated circuits reached 20.19 billion US dollars, representing a 26.8% increase and setting a new record. Companies such as Huawei, SMIC, AMI Semiconductor, ChangXin Memory, and Yangtze Memory have achieved breakthrough success in the semiconductor field. China has become the country with the largest number of AI patents, accounting for 60% of the world’s total. There are over 6,000 AI companies worldwide, and the scale of core industries in China has exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan.
The essence of Sino-US economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win results. In the face of differences and frictions, equal negotiation is the only correct choice. Not long ago, Sino-US economic and trade teams held consultations in South Korea, reaching a generally balanced and positive outcome. It is hoped that the US and China will move towards each other, actively resolve differences in various fields, including technological restrictions, continuously expand the list of cooperation areas, reduce the list of issues, and promote the healthy and stable development of Sino-US economic and technological cooperation. It is believed that this is also what South Korea hopes to see.
The Sino-US relationship is one of the most important and complex bilateral relations in the world. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump held a historic meeting in Beijing, unanimously agreeing to establish constructive strategic stability between China and the United States. The Chinese side believes that this should be a positive and stable relationship characterized by cooperation, a healthy stability where competition is limited, a normal stability where differences can be managed, and a sustainable stability with prospects of peace. Facts have proven that achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making the United States once again great can coexist without conflict, achieve mutual benefits, and benefit the world. We are willing to work with the U.S. side to continuously enrich the connotations of this new orientation, transform them into concrete policies and practical measures, and jointly embark on a new chapter in Sino-US relations.
China and South Korea are strategic partners, while South Korea and the United States form an alliance. It is hoped that the Korean side will act from its own fundamental and long-term interests, and develop good relations with both China and the United States. I believe the Korean side has the wisdom and capability to do so. Currently, the global situation is changing rapidly, with international affairs becoming more complex and chaotic. Unilateral aggression and protectionism are prevalent. As influential countries in the region and the world, China and South Korea should jointly defend multilateralism and free trade, uphold the international system centered on the United Nations and the international order based on international law, and promote global governance to be more just and reasonable. In bilateral areas such as scientific cooperation and industrial collaboration in semiconductors, both China and South Korea have needs that align with their interests, and these should be pursued openly and honestly.
China and Korea are globally leading in technological development, each with its own strengths. It is entirely possible to complement each other's advantages and achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. At the end of last year and early this year, Chinese and Korean heads of state visited each other within two months, marking a new era in bilateral relations. This has created favorable conditions for deepening cooperation in the field of technology. There is a Joint Committee on Science and Technology between the governments of China and Korea, and exchanges and cooperation are active among the relevant departments and enterprises in science, technology, and industry. Recently, many Korean media have increased their attention to China's achievements in areas such as AI and new energy, calling for stronger mutual learning and cooperative efforts between the two countries. Under the new circumstances, both sides should continue to deepen existing cooperation, fully explore potential in traditional areas of cooperation, and actively expand and deepen cooperation in high-tech fields such as AI, biomedicine, and green environmental protection, thereby improving the quality and level of bilateral cooperation. Both governments should actively lead and create platforms to encourage and drive Chinese and Korean enterprises and local authorities to participate actively.
APEC is an important multilateral cooperation mechanism participated by China and South Korea. Last year, South Korea successfully hosted the APEC meeting in Gyeongju. This year, in mid-November, China will host the APEC meeting in Shenzhen. Innovation is one of the three priority areas of this year's APEC. Shenzhen is known as the Silicon Valley of China and a city of innovation. China is willing to work with South Korea to practice the concept of open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory international scientific and technological cooperation. We will use platforms such as APEC and G20 to strengthen bilateral and multilateral scientific and technological innovation cooperation, thereby benefiting both countries and the world.
Cognition is the precursor to action. Only by establishing an objective understanding can one take the right actions. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and South Korea have worked together, taking advantage of their differences in political systems and development stages, thereby fostering mutually beneficial cooperation. This has not only helped South Korea achieve its second "Han River Miracle" but also made significant contributions to China's reform, opening up, and development. Currently, there is deep integration between the industrial chains of China and South Korea, forming a community of interests in which both countries are interconnected. It is true that industrial competition between China and South Korea has increased in recent years, but it is also true that the strategic and mutually beneficial nature of their cooperation remains unchanged. Competition and cooperation coexist in Sino-South Korean cooperation, which will become the new norm. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China will further promote high-quality development. China's economy will become more dynamic, its large market will be further opened up, and Sino-South Korean mutually beneficial cooperation will bring about more opportunities.
Current new technologies such as AI are updated very quickly, and opportunities for cooperation are fleeting. As I mentioned earlier, in recent years, various sectors in Korea have been paying close attention to China's technological development. They are considering policies such as talent cultivation, policy support, and industrial development in China. Many people are calling for Korea to seize its advantages and deepen cooperation with China. However, there are also many who are cautious, worried about China's strong competitiveness and concerns about interference from third parties. But global industrial innovation will not stop, and China's rapid development will not wait for others.
It is hoped that the governments of China and South Korea will strengthen leadership, with all sectors of society actively supporting and participating. By conforming to the general trend, cooperation can be enhanced, and common development can be achieved more effectively. In order for Sino-Korean relations to develop in a healthy, stable, and positive manner, both sides should establish an objective and rational understanding of each other. The role of the media is particularly important. Frankly speaking, in recent years, some South Korean media have fabricated and spread false information about China, sometimes for the sake of attracting attention or gaining traffic, or for political purposes. They have propagated theories such as "China threat theory" or "China collapse theory," damaging China's image and having a negative impact on South Korea's perception of China. It is hoped that the two countries' media will play an active role, doing more to promote understanding and trust between the Chinese and Korean people, and creating a favorable atmosphere for cooperation between the two sides.
