You Zheng, president of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) and a deputy to the National People's Congress, speaks at the two sessions. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

While attending the 2023 NPC & CPPCC National Committee annual sessions (two sessions), representatives from Central China's Hubei province were interviewed by many media outlets and spoke of their proposals and suggestions on the future development of the province.

You Zheng, president of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) and a deputy to the National People's Congress, said that optoelectronics have become Hubei's most powerful field competing in the global arena. He suggested that the province speed up the establishment of national optoelectronic labs, and that it strengthen R&D in strategic and innovative technologies.

Hubei boasts 80 academicians, 1.8 million undergraduates in 130 universities and colleges, 30 national key labs, and 397 new-type research institutes. Based on these, You also suggested that Hubei make the East Lake International Forum for Outstanding Overseas Young Scholars a State-level conference brand with international influence.

Feng Dan, president of the School of Computer Science and Technology of HUST, and also a deputy to the National People's Congress, suggested that the province should further complete the information storage industrial chain.

Feng and her team have been committed to the field of information storage for more than five years, trying to deliver more functional and reliable products with low energy consumption and a high level of security.

Ma Xinqiang, chairman of HGTECH, which is based in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC), highlighted the high-quality development of the advanced manufacturing industry, as well as the need to raise the localization rate of major sciences and technologies.