Second, look at the level from the quality. After 70 years of hard work, the overall education level of China has leapt to the forefront of the world. Let me take higher education as an example and tell you four figures, four of which are 60%. One is that more than 60% of high-level talents in our country are concentrated in institutions of higher learning. The second is that more than 60% of the basic research and major national scientific research tasks in our country are undertaken by universities. Third, more than 60% of the national key laboratories in our country are built in colleges and universities. Fourth, more than 60% of the three national science and technology awards were won by universities. This is an important comprehensive national strength. This is from the quality level.
Third, look at the function from the structure. After 70 years of hard work, we have now established an education system with perfect functions, supporting disciplines and appropriate structure. Structure determines function, and function supports contribution. Over the past 70 years, education has trained 270 million talents for higher education and vocational education. 48.2% of the newly-added labor force in China has received higher education, with an average education period of 13.6 years. This is a very important process of human capital accumulation.
Fourth, look at the impact from an open perspective. After 70 years of hard work, especially since the reform and opening up, China's education has been expanding to the outside world, and now it has become one of the main forces of international educational exchanges and cooperation. No matter from the perspective of basic education, vocational education and higher education, our level of opening up is constantly expanding. The quality level and characteristics of basic education are universally recognized. Our textbooks have gone abroad and achieved good results in every PISA competition. Now our country is the largest source of international students in the world and the number one destination for studying in Asia. Our international influence is constantly improving, and we have become a member of the washington accord, recognizing each other's undergraduate engineering education qualifications.
Fifth, look at the guarantee from the system. We always adhere to the Party's leadership over education. We have established a system of ideological and political work and a system of personnel training that connects universities, primary and secondary schools. An investment guarantee mechanism has been established to support the priority development strategy of education. Since 20 12, we have achieved the goal that fiscal education expenditure accounts for 4% of GDP, and has remained at this level for seven consecutive years. In 20 18, China's total investment in education was 4.6 trillion yuan, an average annual increase of 13.4% compared with the early days of the People's Republic of China. The growth rate is very fast, and education expenditure has become the largest expenditure of public finance. These institutional guarantee systems have effectively promoted the rapid development of education.
Generally speaking, the 70-year development is indeed magnificent and earth-shaking changes have taken place. Educators handed over an answer worthy of history and the times.