For China, 2023 is a year of major achievements in science and technology. As the Two Sessions discuss new plans for China's development, let's take a look at some of those exciting and impressive events：
Manned submersible Fendouzhe
Manned submersible Fendouzhe, which means "Striver", was carried by the scientific research ship Tansuo-1 to complete its first international manned deep-diving scientific research mission in Oceania in March last year. The domestically developed Fendouzhe has greatly improved the independent innovation level of China's deep-sea equipment technology.
C919 passenger aircraft
The C919, China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, completed its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing on May 28, 2023, marking its official entry into the civil aviation market. This February, the C919 made its international debut at the Singapore Airshow. It attracted considerable global attention with visitors flocking to see the aircraft and how it performed.
Many aviation experts have commented that the C919 could break the duopoly of Boeing and Airbus in China's domestic market. The size of China's aviation market and strong industrial policy give the C919 an edge to advance the "Made in China" strategy in aviation.
Adora Magic City
China's first domestically-built large cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, was delivered in November 2023. It took eight years of research and five years of designing and construction. In January 2024, the massive Adora Magic City, resembling a modern city on the sea, completed its maiden voyage. The international media hailed it as a milestone for China's shipbuilding industry.
Nanohertz gravitational waves
Chinese researchers have found key evidence of the existence of nanohertz gravitational waves by using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, or FAST. Overseas media outlets called the discovery pivotal in understanding the structure of the universe and the behavior of supermassive black holes, paving the way for future exploration of gravitational waves.
Shenzhou aircrafts
China's space exploration efforts made significant strides in 2023. The crew of the Shenzhou-15 and 16 aircraft successfully met each other in China's Tiangong space station. The Shenzhou-16 mission also stood out for taking the first Chinese civilian astronaut to space. After a five-month stay in space, it returned to earth, passing the baton of space exploration to the Shenzhou-17.
Looking forward, we will see China making further strides to take its sci-tech self-reliance and strength to a higher level to support national development.