A girl watches a photoelectric carbon neutral model at the China International Fair for Trade in Services in September 2022. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By ZHONG Jianli

In order to better leverage the role of technological innovation in China's green and low-carbon development, the country has released an implementation plan to further improve the market-oriented green technology innovation system.

The plan, jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology, aims to strengthen enterprises' leading role in innovation, improve the market mechanism for the commercialization of green technology, and create an environment where all types of innovators can thrive through more efficient cooperation between enterprises, universities and research institutes.

The plan proposes to enhance green technology innovation by carrying out a number of projects, including the research and demonstration of key technologies for carbon peaking and neutralization, the comprehensive treatment of air, soil, and groundwater pollution, and the development of key technologies and equipment for the circular economy.

More efforts will be made to cultivate leading enterprises in green technology innovation and support the development of more specialized and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in the field, according to the plan. By 2025, China will see more leading and specialized enterprises cultivated to develop green technology.

In addition, the plan encourages all kinds of innovators to develop key green technologies with independent intellectual property rights that have reached the international advanced level.

To speed up the transformation and application of green technology, the plan proposes that a green technology trading market will be promoted, and the application of green technology products will be encouraged.

The plan also calls for expanding international cooperation on green technology. Foreign investment in green technology and high-end equipment manufacturing will be welcomed, while Chinese green technology developers should actively expand the international market, so as to help address environmental challenges in other countries and regions.