Xi's message to China: Innovate or stagnate

Xi Jinping wants China to beat its rivals in tech - and he won't let mere economic troubles get in the way. At China's annual legislative meeting, he pushed for dominance in AI, biotech, and advanced weapons despite mounting local debt and a sluggish economy.

The National People's Congress has become Xi's personal showcase. Gone are the days when delegates might dare question official policies. Now, 3,000 party loyalists nod along as Xi outlines his vision of China as a scientific powerhouse.

The numbers tell the story: Beijing will boost tech spending by 8.3% this year, while social welfare gets a modest 5% bump. Xi's betting big on innovation over immediate relief for struggling citizens.

Why this matters:

• Xi's transforming China's rubber-stamp parliament into a high-tech pep rally - turns out even autocrats need to keep up with the AI revolution