Preparations are underway for China's largest annual political gathering, known as the "Two Sessions." The fourth instalment of the special series "Pledge to the People," traces the footsteps of China's President Xi Jinping as he charts the course for China's modernization. Huang Yichang starts his journey in Wuhan's Optics Valley.

Innovative solutions for social development are desperately needed. And in President Xi Jinping's words, they need to be the product of Chinese people's own efforts.

"We need to realize scientific and technological self-reliance, in a self-innovative way."

"We can only rely on our own efforts, otherwise, we will always go with others."

"We should spend more developing our own aircraft."

"We need to allow tech innovation to benefit the people."

Qin Xiao, an engineer at a laser company remembers vividly Xi's visit to the plant last year.

"When I heard the sound of the camera shutters, I thought it must be a senior leader entering. When he walked nearby, I saw him from the corner of my eye and found it was President Xi Jinping. I was excited, and he then walked to the ultra-thin glass laser-cutting machine and picked up a sample of the glass. He looked very approachable."

HUANG YICHANG Wuhan "This glass is as soft as paper but thinner than paper; it is less than half of the thickness of human hair. And this is the first ultra-thin laser-cutting machine developed in China."

Ten years ago, China relied heavily on Foreign companies for this kind of laser equipment. Company chairman, Ma Xinqiang hasn't forgotten what President Xi said back then.

MA XINQIANG Chairman, HGTECH CO., LTD. NPC deputy "When the President visited Optics valley ten years ago, he talked to 10 of us entrepreneurs. He said, money can't buy us core technology."

Keeping those words in mind, Optics Valley has been at the forefront of many scientific breakthroughs over the past ten years, as technological advancements are being witnessed across China.

Ma Xinqing was proud to show them off when he met Xi last year.

"We can proudly say that, after 10 years of endeavor, we have achieved a safe framework and also self-reliance in the laser industry."

Ma says, taking laser-welding for vehicles as an example, foreign companies dominated the Chinese market for 40 years.

He told Xi, 90 percent of car manufacturers in China use his company's equipment.

"Xi looked quite satisfied. Xi later proposed to keep the lifeblood of science and technology in our own hands, which clarified the tasks for our researchers."

"We need to educate talent well across the land and get those good minds to contribute to the nation."

Wherever Xi Jinping goes, he always talks to young workers, in whose hands the future of technology lies.

"When President Xi walked down the stairs, he smiled at us. We were all excited."

"We always encounter difficulties in scientific research, but Xi's words always give me the impetus to overcome difficulties."

"I am still full of vigor."

New innovations are shattering the boundaries of imagination. As President Xi pledged to allow tech innovation to benefit the people, with our own effort playing a part. Huang Yichang, CGTN, Wuhan, Hubei Province.