As the global tech race intensifies, the Chinese mainland chalked up a series of landmark achievements in 2025. From fusion breakthroughs to AI frontiers, here are the top 10 domestic sci-tech milestones spotlighted by CMG:
1. Three World-Class Innovation Hubs
In January, the Central Economic Work Conference set the major task of building international science and technology innovation centers in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta around Shanghai, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. These hubs aim to foster cross-border R&D collaboration and attract global talent.
2. State Council’s “AI Plus” Initiative
The State Council issued guidelines in March to implement “AI Plus,” targeting six key areas—science and technology, industrial development, consumption upgrading, and more. Eight foundational support systems, including data platforms and intelligent computing power, will drive AI’s deep integration across society and the economy.
3. Tianwen-2 Asteroid Mission Launch
On May 29, the Tianwen-2 probe lifted off aboard a Long March-3B rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province. China’s first asteroid exploration and sample-return mission seeks to analyze “cosmic fossils” and advance interplanetary science.
4. Fusion Milestone at EAST Tokamak
China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) sustained high-confinement plasma at over 100 million °C for 1,066 seconds. This record-setting run brings the world closer to controlled fusion as a clean energy source.
5. DeepSeek AI Model Goes Global
DeepSeek, a new AI foundation model from the Chinese mainland, captured worldwide attention with its open-weight, low-cost design. By lowering barriers to entry, DeepSeek has accelerated AI adoption among researchers and startups globally.
6. Quantum Leap with Zuchongzhi 3.0
The superconducting quantum computer prototype Zuchongzhi 3.0 achieved quantum computational advantage in late 2025, processing random circuit sampling tasks a quadrillion times faster than the world’s top supercomputer and one million times faster than Google’s October 2024 results.
7. Fujian Aircraft Carrier Commissioning
On November 5, the aircraft carrier Fujian was commissioned in south China’s Hainan Province. As the Chinese mainland’s first carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults, Fujian represents a leap in naval aviation capability.
8. Autonomous Shenzhou-22 Mission
Shenzhou-22 carried out an emergency drill featuring end-to-end uncrewed operations and rapid docking with China’s space station complex. The mission showcased advanced autonomy and reliability in launch and control systems.
9. JUNO Neutrino Observatory Goes Live
The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) began operations this year as the world’s first ultra-large facility for high-precision neutrino research. JUNO aims to resolve the neutrino mass ordering and study particles from the Sun, supernovae, the atmosphere and Earth.
10. Rise of Robot Competitions
2025 saw a surge in embodied intelligence events, including the first humanoid robot half-marathon and the CMG World Robot Skills Competition. These contests highlighted advances in hardware, algorithms and data that are shaping the future of robotics.
Together, these breakthroughs underscore how the Chinese mainland is driving the frontiers of innovation and contributing to global scientific progress in 2025.
Reference(s):
CMG releases top 10 domestic, international sci-tech news of 2025
cgtn.com
