An innovative China gets global attention

Photo taken on Sept 24, 2016 shows the 500-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in Pingtang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. The FAST, world's largest radio telescope, measuring 500 meters in diameter, was completed and put into use on Sept 25. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - With a series of scientific breakthroughs during the past year, China is ushering in 2017 looking to grow into one of the world's great innovators.

In his New Year speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping touched on many scientific and technological achievements made in 2016, such as the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) being put into operation, and the Dark Matter Particle Explorer Satellite "Wukong" in orbit for a year.

He also mentioned launching of a quantum satellite and the Shenzhou-11 and Tiangong-2 space missions.

"We have made a series of breakthroughs this year and established a set of regulations as well as a quality guarantee system. We have also built a young and capable team," said Li Jian, head of the Beijing Aerospace Control Center.

FAST, the world's largest radio telescope, was put into use in September in southwest China to observe space and look for extraterrestrial life.

The telescope may help people better understand the origin and structure of the universe, and accelerate the search for life beyond earth.

China's first dark-matter detection satellite "Wukong," named after the legendary Monkey King, was sent into space in December 2015 to search for signals of dark matter, invisible material that scientists say makes up most of the universe's mass.