Over the past three decades, China has witnessed rapid economic and social development. Meanwhile, the real annual growth rate of GDP averaged 10.7 percent, making China's economy the second largest in the world.
While acknowledging the achievements China has made in driving its economy forward, Zhou Ji, president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a delegate to the current CPC National Congress, points out the necessity for a shift in the development model.
"Our economic development is mainly based on investment and on the exploitation of resources and energy. Hence, our country has paid a price when it comes to the environment and we cannot afford to pursue such a method of development; so it's high time to shift the growth model, which would basically depend on science and technology as well as a remarkable increase in
