Liu Zheng, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People"s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

　　China could only launch five or six rockets a year when he started work about 20 years ago, but the country launched around 90 rockets in the past year, said Liu Zheng, head craftsman of the CNC Machining Technology Research Laboratory at Capital Aerospace Machinery Corporation and a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People"s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

　　It took 37 years for China to complete its first 100 rocket launches, while the most recent 100 launches were accomplished in just over one year, Liu told reporters during a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Saturday.

　　“Space engineering allows no room for error. The success of each rocket launch requires everyone, every link, and every component to achieve zero error,” Liu said. He said that he works on manufacturing rocket components, a process in which his team adheres to the aerospace craftsmanship spirit of continuous improvement.

　　The core of China’s aerospace self-reliant process innovation lies in the integration of process and equipment. This involves the simultaneous research and development (R&D) of component manufacturing processes and corresponding equipment and tools, achieving synchronized design, collaborative development, and deep integration. This forms an innovation ecosystem driven by demand and joint iteration, according to Liu.