A New Story of Northeast Revitalization from the Perspective of Major Powers

On the vast expanse of the sky, the Zhurong Mars rover steadily traversed the terrain of sand dunes, and the detector successfully activated the "capture" of mysterious data; In the silent ocean, "Hai Dou One" broke through its limits towards deeper depths; Under the hard surface, the "Crustal No.1" ten thousand meter drilling rig is pushing forward towards the center of the earth with great force; Between the vertical and horizontal tracks, the "Fuxing" high-speed rail runs at full speed, showcasing China's speed

These eye-catching weapons of great powers all contain elements of Northeast China.

Northeast China has nurtured a group of leading enterprises in the field of heavy equipment, including CRRC Changke, China Yizhong, and Shenyang Drum Group. For over 10 years, Northeast China has been continuously researching and developing national key tools, laying the foundation for meeting national strategic needs and improving people's quality of life, and making new contributions to stabilizing key industrial chains and supply chain security.

Forge a national treasure with high-level technology for self-reliance and self-improvement

Opening the cabin door, Chinese astronauts strolled through outer space and, with the assistance of the robotic arm of the spacecraft, carried out multiple installation and operation tasks

In April, when the crew of the Shenzhou-15 spacecraft successfully completed their fourth extravehicular activity, breaking the record for individual extravehicular activities of Chinese astronauts, the R&D members of the Harbin Institute of Technology's forearm flight control support team in front of the screen couldn't help but applaud.

In the 1990s, the International Space Station was established. Having an independent Chinese space station has become the aspiration of Chinese astronauts, and the development of various key equipment is urgent. As the technical research and development team of the spacecraft's robotic arm, researchers from Harbin Institute of Technology have successfully broken through foreign blockades after more than ten years of effort, achieving a "critical leap" including the core algorithm of the space robotic arm. Carrying various types of aerospace "express delivery" to assist astronauts in leaving the spacecraft... Nowadays, the robotic arm of the Wentian module has become the "right-hand man" of China's space station.

This is the lunar dust chamber of the space environment ground simulation device at Harbin Institute of Technology. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Song

The prosperity of technology leads to the prosperity of the nation, and the strength of technology leads to the strength of the country. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Northeast China has relied on the solid foundation of the "cradle of new China's industry", accelerated research and development, and forged a number of national weapons, forming strong support for national strategy. A group of research institutes and key enterprises in Northeast China, relying on years of technological accumulation, have targeted the "bottleneck" problem and continuously achieved innovative results in fields such as basic raw materials, high-end chips, industrial software, and agricultural breeding.

Workers operate tongs to lift heated forgings in the production workshop of China First Heavy Industry Corporation located in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Song

From "Shenzhou" to "Tiangong", from "Chang'e" to "Tianwen", aerospace equipment and materials developed by universities, research institutes, and enterprises in Northeast China are exploring the Milky Way;

From the major equipment of ethylene in petrochemical industry, to China's independent third-generation nuclear power technology, Hualong No.1, Northeast China has become a major producer of national equipment;

From refining and decomposing crude oil into fine chemical products, to comprehensively mastering the key technology of carbon fiber large fiber bundles, more high-end raw materials have also been introduced in Northeast China

Serve national strategy and meet the needs of the people. Building a deeply coupled "industry university research application" platform in Northeast China, allowing major scientific and technological achievements to enter the market and be timely transformed into people's well-being.

The patient lies on the CT machine, the camera captures the body posture, and the AI system automatically adjusts the position and scanning range of the scanning bed; As the scanning system starts, the image is immediately presented on the screen... Dongruan Medical Systems Co., Ltd. in Shenyang has developed the world's fastest speed AI wide body energy spectrum CT.

Workers produce CT machines in the production workshop of Neusoft Medical Systems Co., Ltd. located in Shenyang, Liaoning Province. Photo by Yang Qing, journalist from Xinhua News Agency

This year, the domestically produced large aircraft C919 successfully completed its first commercial flight and officially entered the civil aviation market, starting normal commercial operation. The front section of the rear fuselage, APU hatch, vertical tail, engine suspension and other components of the C919 were all developed by AVIC Shenfei Civil Aircraft Co., Ltd., contributing to the Northeast's efforts to lift generations of aviation professionals to pursue blue skies.

Engineering personnel are carrying out the construction of the 79 frame of the rear fuselage of the C919 in the factory area of AVIC Shenyang Civil Aircraft Co., Ltd. located in Shenyang. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yao Jianfeng

The red robotic arm has precise movements and the snake shaped special robot can stretch and contract freely... Walking into the 20000 square meter workshop of Shenyang Xinsong Robot Automation Co., Ltd. is like entering the future world.

As a leading domestic robot enterprise, Xinsong Company has successively conquered cutting-edge and common technologies such as intelligent perception and autonomous decision-making. With the arrival of the era of intelligent elderly care and intelligent rehabilitation, the company is laying out the development of wearable exoskeletons, intelligent walking aids and other products, accelerating the evolution of robots into the field of intelligent services.

This is the production workshop of Shenyang Xinsong Robot Automation Co., Ltd. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Pan Yulong

Focus on the present and plan for the future. With the rapid development of the Internet, big data, artificial intelligence and other new generation information technologies, the Northeast manufacturing industry has accelerated its industrial layout to aerospace, intelligent cars, rail cars, intelligent machine tools and other industries, and continued to cultivate new growth points in the transformation and upgrading.

Accumulating thickness and forming momentum to achieve industrial quality and efficiency improvement

To improve competitiveness, a country needs to rely on the real economy. The equipment manufacturing industry is an important component of the real economy. The three northeastern provinces focus on strengthening the real economy and take it as their responsibility to ensure the stability of the industrial and supply chains. They have successively issued the "Development Plan for Advanced Equipment Manufacturing Industry in Liaoning Province during the 14th Five Year Plan", the "Action Plan for Intelligent Transformation and Digital Transformation of Manufacturing Industry in Jilin Province", and the "Action Plan for Industrial Revitalization in Heilongjiang Province", fully leveraging the supporting role of equipment manufacturing industry to promote the development of the real economy.

In the exhibition hall of Siling Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., various types of robotic arms are neatly arranged, which can be used in multiple industries such as telemedicine, automotive maintenance, electronic assembly, and vocational education.

The staff introduced the independently developed robotic arm of Siling Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. located in Harbin New Area, Heilongjiang Province. Photo by Yang Siqi, journalist from Xinhua News Agency

"Since settling in the industrial park last year, the company has enjoyed a series of preferential policies such as rent exemption, tax reduction, and high-tech enterprise fund rewards. Our sales revenue reached 70 million yuan last year, and it is expected to exceed 200 million yuan this year." Lin Weichen, the relevant person in charge of the company, said that it is the "living water" of the preferential enterprise policy that has attracted this "unicorn" enterprise to settle in Harbin.

Policy support is a powerful support for empowering the innovation chain with the industrial chain. In recent years, the three provinces in Northeast China have increased their investment in resources and policy supply to safeguard innovation. Heilongjiang Province has innovated and developed 380 of its first products in key areas such as high-end equipment, new materials, and next-generation information technology, with provincial-level financial support of 520 million yuan. Jilin Province is deeply implementing the innovation driven development strategy, integrating the resources of "universities, academies, institutions, and enterprises" within the province, winning the battle for core technology, and accelerating the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into the real driving force for economic and social development. Liaoning Province has issued regulations on scientific and technological innovation, laid out and constructed Liaoning laboratories, and created a national level scientific and technological innovation platform

Sharp reform is also helping traditional industries in Northeast China to reach new heights.

In Changchun, new energy Hongqi sedans make up the flowing scenery that Changchun people are proud of.

Red Flag has been upgrading its products in line with market trends and public demand. In recent years, it has seized the opportunity to shift from traditional fuel vehicles to new energy and intelligent vehicles. In the first half of 2023, the cumulative sales of Hongqi new energy vehicles reached 33091 units, a year-on-year increase of 282%.

Workers inspect vehicles in the final assembly workshop of FAW Hongqi Prosperity Factory located in Changchun, Jilin. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Nan

Before 2021, Harbin Electric Group suffered significant losses. Focusing on the national goal of "peaking carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality," the company focuses on optimizing its industrial layout with new energy as the mainstay, green and low-carbon driving systems, and clean and efficient industrial systems. The company produces the first batch of domestically produced equipment with independent intellectual property rights, including the world's largest third-generation nuclear power reactor coolant shielded motor main pump.

Workers are working in the production workshop of Harbin Electric Machinery Factory Co., Ltd. of Harbin Electric Group. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Song

Be a solid entity and make enterprises a source of innovation.

Changguang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., which came out of the Chinese President of Science Chun Guangji, is currently the chain owner of the satellite industry chain, and is helping Jilin Province take the "Jilin No.1" satellite constellation as the starting point to form an industrial cluster of satellite R&D, manufacturing and application, and inject new momentum into the development of the old industrial base.

Enterprises are the main body of innovation. The three provinces in Northeast China continue to optimize the business environment and provide support for enterprises to loosen their ties. Jilin provides support to technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises registered in the province at different stages of development, such as start-up and growth, through equity or debt investments. Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province is building a more comprehensive technology and financial service system to plan a full lifecycle financing roadmap for technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises. The three provinces in Northeast China have fully implemented the reduction of income tax for high-tech enterprises. Only Liaoning Province in 2022 has reduced tax refunds and fees by over 90 billion yuan, benefiting nearly one million operating entities.

Researchers from Changguang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. located in Changchun, Jilin are conducting relevant testing work in the satellite assembly testing hall. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Chang

Cultivate the soul of struggle in the fertile land of innovation

Merit leads to talent, and career leads to talent. National treasures have emerged one after another, embodying the hard work of scientific and technological workers and great country craftsmen, witnessing their achievements.

Green bricks and blue tiles, vermilion painted pillars. There is a tidy office in the Geological Palace of Jilin University, which attracts many people to visit every year. This is Huang Danian's office before his death, which was the strategic scientist who filled multiple technological gaps in China's "sky survey, earth exploration, and sea diving", and had fought countless times on the "battlefield".

At the end of 2009, Huang Danian was appointed as a professor at the School of Earth Exploration Science and Technology at Jilin University. Over the past eight years, he devoted himself wholeheartedly and tirelessly, leading his team to create multiple "firsts in China": from scratch, he developed an aviation gravity gradient instrument with independent intellectual property rights and a series of deep ground exploration equipment; The research and development of "fast mobile platform detection technology" has been widely applied in the field of oil, gas, and mineral resource exploration technology

After numerous monuments of technological innovation, there is a group of professionals who are indifferent to fame and fortune, devoted to research, and only strive to achieve the cause of our motherland.

Professor Yu Ping, a member of the Huang Danian style teaching team, introduced the content of scientific research projects to students at the School of Earth Exploration Science and Technology, Jilin University. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Nan

When Liu Yongtan, a professor of Harbin Institute of Technology, received the 2018 National Highest Science and Technology Award on the stage, the public learned that this white haired, plainly dressed old man had the title of "double academician" of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. His life was long, but he only did one great thing - researching new system radars.

In the early 1980s, under the severe situation of relying on traditional radar to monitor and warn less than 20% of China's sea areas, Liu Yongtan took the initiative to undertake the task of developing a new system of radar. In the 1990s, they set up an experimental station in the desert. Thousands of tests, tens of thousands of test data, hungry to eat cold Mantou, sleepy to sleep on the floor of the experimental station... In 2011, the "radar iron army" led by Liu Yongtan finally successfully developed China's first all-weather, long-distance, sea and air compatible coastal defense early warning equipment, which was superior to the most advanced equipment in the world at that time.

"Teacher Liu demonstrated the original intention and perseverance of a strategic scientist through his actions, and he is a role model for us young people to learn from," said Li Yang, a member of Liu Yongtan's team.

Technological innovation is valued in the relay. Yan Changxiang, a researcher of Chunguang Institute of Mechanical Mechanics, President of Chinese Science, expressed his gratitude for growing up from being a doctoral candidate to becoming a subsystem chief designer of major projects such as the "China Space Station". Behind every step of growth, Wang Jiaqi, a tutor and academician of the CAS Member, could not do without his strict requirements and dedication to cultivation.

As the chief designer of the optical cameras for Shenzhou-5 and Shenzhou-6, Wang Jiaqi has always been in a research state of "acceleration". However busy his work is, he always leaves a portion of the morning for students to discuss project directions and revise papers. Under the guidance of words and deeds, Yan Changxiang has now led more than 50 graduate students, and his achievements are abundant throughout the world. He worked hard to take on the responsibility of his teacher and continue to cultivate more new forces for the research and manufacturing of aerospace optical cameras.

Continuously passing down the torch, generations of science and technology workers in Northeast China have devoted their lives to the important weapons of the great country, only to strengthen the backbone of the country.

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