1in June, 988, according to the development trend and present situation of contemporary science and technology, Comrade Deng Xiaoping put forward the conclusion that "science and technology are the primary productive forces" at the National Science Conference. This assertion of Comrade Deng Xiaoping embodies the Marxist theory of productive forces and scientific outlook. "Science and technology are the primary productive forces" is not only an important feature of the development of modern science and technology, but also an inevitable result of the development of science and technology.
Social productivity is the ability of human beings to transform nature, and natural science, as the ability of human beings to understand and transform nature, is bound to be included in social productivity. Once science and technology permeate and act on the production process, it becomes a realistic and direct productive force. The characteristics and present situation of the development of modern science and technology tell us that science and technology, especially high technology, are infiltrating and integrating into all elements of productive forces at an increasing speed.
1In May 1995, Comrade Jiang Zemin put forward the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education. The main contents of the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education are: under the guidance of the idea that science and technology are the primary productive forces, adhere to education-oriented, put science and technology and education in an important position in economic and social development, enhance the country's scientific and technological strength and its ability to transform into practical productive forces, improve the scientific and technological cultural quality of the whole nation, shift economic construction to the track of relying on scientific and technological progress and improving the quality of workers, and accelerate the prosperity of the country.