Beijing-based deputies offered their suggestions and experiences on the integrated development of science, technology and culture during the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, which concluded in mid-March.

More efforts need to be made to promote the application of sci-tech research results in the cultural sector so as to advance the industrial upgrading and innovation, said Yi Tong, head of the Institute of Innovation for Development at Beijing Academy of Science and Technology.

Beijing has clear advantages in boosting cultural industries through science and technology, including its rich cultural and tourism resources as well as a huge number of culture companies and tech giants, according to Yi.

The city should seize the opportunities offered by the metaverse to cultural industries, and put more emphasis on the technologies underpinning the metaverse, she said.

She also suggested the capital build more demonstration bases for technology-culture integration, provide more financial support and ramp up protection for intellectual property involving cultural industries.

Wang Shaofeng, Party secretary of Beijing's Fengtai district, introduced the district's ongoing project — Southern Central Axis International Cultural and Sci-tech Parkat the meeting, which is key to the transformation of traditional industries in the area.

With a planned floor area of 186,700 square meters, the park will focus on technology, culture and the digital economy, creating a favorable environment for innovation, Wang said.

The park's first phase has been completed and it opened to the public in December 2022. The second-phase construction is in full swing and it is expected to begin operation this year.

Haidian district's Party chief Wang Hesheng said the district aims to lead the city in building an international center for science and technology innovation, based on its great strengths in education, talent and technology.

Haidian will continue its efforts in the development of Zhongguancun Science Park by offering effective services to key national laboratories in the park, supporting emerging research institutes, and incubating more unicorn startups and listed enterprises, according to the district Party chief.

"We will improve our services to make it more professional, international and market-oriented and to build a world-class science park in the future," he said.

The district has also hatched plans for the integrated development of universities, enterprises and research institutes, and the balanced development of basic education, Wang Hesheng said.

Hao Ping, Party chief of Peking University, said that in order to build China into an innovation powerhouse and a talent hub in the world, universities must undertake more responsibilities and missions.

Peking University has allocated more resources to basic subjects in recent years, in a bid to contribute more to the national strategy of reinvigorating the country through science and education, Hao said.

In addition, the university has set up a coherent scientific research system, and made some major breakthroughs in such fields as photoelectric devices and new-generation stem cell technology.