President Xi Jinping Engages with Political Advisors on Education and Technology in China
President Xi Jinping Engages with Political Advisors on Education and Technology in China
On March 9, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who also serves as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, engaged in an in-depth dialogue with members of the national political advisory bodies, including representatives from the China Democratic League and the China Association for Promoting Democracy. This meeting took place during the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, focusing on pivotal issues concerning education in the era of digital transformation.
During the discussions, Xi highlighted the imperative that education must not stray from its fundamental principles. As technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), significantly reshapes educational landscapes, the meeting underscored the dual need for innovation alongside foundational academic skills. One notable input came from Xu Kun, a CPPCC member from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, who articulated that AI has become crucial in advancing China from a large educational system to a robust one. Xi affirmed the transformative potential of digitalization while cautioning against neglecting essential educational tenets, especially the cultivation of problem-solving skills and value-based education.
Balancing Innovation and Fundamentals
Xi's commentary drew parallels from the past, illustrating how technological advancements shift educational demands. He noted that with the rise of calculators, the expectations around basic mathematical skills transformed. Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of foundational knowledge; without it, modern educational approaches risk losing their essence. He quoted the famous adage, "To ensure a good outcome, one must establish a solid foundation; to achieve a good future, one must be meticulous from the start." This principle applies especially in today’s digitized age, where the definition of