One of China’s leading quantum scientist said the nation is developing medium-high orbit quantum satellites, the Global Times is reporting.
“We are cooperating with the National Space Science Center to develop a medium-high orbit satellite. In the future, the combination of high-orbit and low-orbit satellites will build a wide-area quantum communication network,” Pan Jianwei, an Chinese Academy of Sciences researcher told Chinese media.
Medium-high orbit satellite can provide higher work efficiency, as well as longer and wider quantum communication range, Pan said. Pan, also a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and executive vice president of University of Science and Technology of China, made the remark in an interview with media on Saturday, Yicai reported.
Pan urged high level scientific and technological self-reliance, the Global Times Reported.
“As we enter the fierce international competition, high-end instruments and equipment materials are not easy to import. If we cannot achieve independent research and development for these devices, it is difficult for us to achieve high-level technology self-reliance,” Pan said.
It is hoped there will be further national policies aimed at encouraging and supporting state-owned enterprises to develop high-end equipment, devices and materials, Pan said.
Pan said that in the past decade, China has made great progress in science and technology to push the country to the forefront of scientific research in the world in quantum physics, quantum technology, high energy physics and astrophysics.
While Pan expect major progress to be made in quantum chemistry, material design and quantum simulation, the researcher told the media that quantum error correction must be realized first and after that it may take 10-15 years to achieve universal quantum computing.
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