THE outbreak of the novel coronavirus has helped people realize the importance that new infrastructure, like 5G networks, plays in our daily lives.

The third annual session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s top legislature, is scheduled to be held in Beijing on May 22. Liu Ruopeng, president of Kuang-Chi Institute of Advanced Technology, spoke in an interview with Shenzhen Economic Daily. As a deputy to the NPC, he said he would focus on new infrastructure and high-end manufacturing, cultivating a driving force and 5G network construction.

This is the third year for Liu to be honored as a deputy to the NPC. He has made proposals based on his research on technological innovation, newly emerged industries and related industries.

This year, one of the country’s major objectives is to see more new infrastructure, which includes newly emerged industries such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). “I hope research can be done in all industries [from new infrastructure], and proposals for research can be delivered based on the data of the aforementioned,” said Liu.

“For any business, indigenous innovation is crucial. Core technology breakthroughs can only be made by ourselves,” Liu said, adding that he would undertake his duty as a deputy and bring his research and proposals addressing new problems, challenges and opportunities in technology to the national congress.

5G will transform various social and economic sectors and Liu believes the country should be determined in building 5G infrastructure like it did high-speed rail.

“5G will cover the whole city of Shenzhen by the end of August this year. It will stimulate Kuang-Chi’s business, which has developed intelligent helmets,” Liu said.

Born in 1983, Liu returned to Shenzhen and started Kuang-Chi after completing overseas study at the age of 27. His proposal at the session last year, on building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into an innovation demonstration area of military and civilian integration, attracted wide-spread attention.  

(Han Ximin)