Editor’s note: In this column we introduce phrases used every day in the media and by the Chinese government, thereby providing a succinct overview of China’s political thinking, its policies and ongoing reforms and transitions.

创新驱动发展战略

中国实施创新驱动发展战略,就是要推动以科技创新为核心的全面创新,坚持需求导向和产业化方向,坚持企业在创新中的主体地位,发挥市场在资源配置中的决定性作用和社会主义制度优势,增强科技进步对经济增长的贡献度,形成新的增长动力源泉,推动经济持续健康发展。主要措施包括:营造激励创新的公平竞争环境,建立技术创新市场导向机制,强化金融创新的功能,完善成果转化激励政策,构建更加高效的科研体系,创新培养、用好和吸引人才机制,推动形成深度融合的开放创新局面,等等。中国将力争到2020年,基本形成适应创新驱动发展要求的制度环境和政策法律体系,为进入创新型国家行列提供有力保障。

The innovation-driven development strategy

China’s innovation-driven development strategy aims to encourage innovation in all areas, particularly scientific and technological innovation. Innovation should be demand-driven in response to the needs of industrialization. Businesses are major players in delivering innovation, and the market should play the decisive role in allocating resources. The full potential of our socialist system should be explored. The strategy seeks to enhance the contribution of scientific and technological advances to economic growth, which will serve as a new impetus for growth and help sustain sound economic development.

The main measures to be taken include creating a favorable environment for fair competition and a market-based mechanism that encourages technological innovation. It is also essential to promote financial innovation to provide more incentives for innovative uses of technology. Another area of focus is building a more efficient scientific research system, and implementing an effective talent management mechanism for training and attracting competent personnel. A highly integrated approach is necessary to ensure an open, innovation-friendly climate. By 2020 China seeks to have in place an institutional, legal and policy framework for innovation-driven development, creating the conditions necessary for China to become one of the world’s most innovative countries.

战略性新兴产业

中国所提出的战略性新兴产业,是指那些潜在市场大、带动能力强、吸收就业多、综合效益好的产业,比如节能环保、新一代信息技术、高端装备制造、集成电路、物联网、先进制造、新能源、新一代移动通信、大数据等。中国将适应产业竞争格局新变化,加快培育这些产业发展,构建“核心技术—战略产品—工程与规模应用”的创新价值链,拓展产业发展空间,培育市场竞争新优势。

Emerging industries of strategic importance

Emerging industries of strategic importance are those that have considerable market potential, can drive the economy and create more jobs, and are cost-effective. They include energy conservation and environmental protection, new-generation information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, integrated circuits, the Internet of Things, advanced manufacturing, new energy, new-generation mobile communications, and big data.

China will step up efforts to foster the growth of these industries in response to new challenges in a competitive world. An innovative value chain will be created linking core technologies, strategic products, and engineering expertise and capacity and large-scaled applications. The scope of industrial development will be expanded, with new possibilities for businesses to sharpen their competitive edge.

大众创业、万众创新

习近平在2014年12月的中央经济工作会议上提出要“营造有利于大众创业、市场主体创新的政策制度环境”。此前,李克强在2014年9月的夏季达沃斯论坛上也曾提出,要掀起“大众创业”“草根创业”的新浪潮,形成“万众创新”“人人创新”的新态势。“大众创业、万众创新”是实现中国经济提质增效升级的“新引擎”,其目的在于尊重人民群众的主体地位,充分发挥其无限创造力,让他们平等参与现代化进程，共同分享改革红利和发展成果。推动大众创业、万众创新,可以扩大就业，增加居民收入,有利于促进社会纵向流动和公平正义,同时也可以让中国民众在创造财富的过程中,更好地实现精神追求和自身价值。

Widespread entrepreneurship and innovation

At the Central Economic Work Meeting in December 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to create an environment conducive to widespread entrepreneurship and innovation, at both policy and institutional levels. In September that year, Premier Li Keqiang declared at the “Summer Davos” forum in Tianjin that China would encourage the widest possible participation in entrepreneurial activities and help unleash a massive wave of grassroots innovation.

Widespread entrepreneurship and innovation will be a new engine for China to upgrade its economy, making it more efficient. This axiom testifies to the leading role of the people in China’s drive towards modernization and the importance of tapping into their unbounded creativity and allowing them to enjoy the dividends of reform and the fruits of development. Promoting entrepreneurship and innovation will create more jobs, increase incomes, boost upward social mobility, and contribute to social equity and justice. This will in turn encourage individuals to further pursue their ideals and realize their full potential while generating higher levels of wealth.

Selected from Keywords to Understanding China published by China Academy of Translation and China International Publishing Group.