On the morning of March 5th, the third session of the 14th National People's Congress convened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xu Weilin, a deputy to the National People's Congress, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and President of Wuhan Textile University, participated in the session in Beijing. On that day, he listened to Premier Li Qiang's delivery of the "Report on the Work of the Government". On the morning of March 6th, the Hubei delegation of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress held a plenary meeting to deliberate on the "Report on the Work of the Government", which was fully open to domestic and foreign media. At this meeting, Xu Weilin delivered a speech on the theme of "Empowering the Transformation and High-Quality Development of the Textile Industry through Science and Technology".
Xu Weilin remarked that Premier Li Qiang's "Report on the Work of the Government" is pragmatic, focused, and inspiring. The report explicitly calls for "adhering to innovation-led development and promoting education, scientific and technological innovation, and talent cultivation in an integrated manner," thereby further clarifying the direction for building a strong education system and serving China's modernization.
Xu Weilin highlighted that the rapid innovation in fiber materials has rejuvenated the textile industry, expanding its applications beyond traditional clothing to include home furnishings, construction, environmental protection, medical care, and health. For instance, in the medical field, Wuhan Textile University has developed lead-free medical radiation protective clothing with superior radiation shielding performance compared to conventional lead-containing garments. This new protective suit weighs only about one-third of traditional lead suits. After industrial production, it has been deployed at hospitals such as Wuhan Union Hospital and Hubei Provincial People's Hospital, providing enhanced protection for healthcare professionals and earning high praise from users. The university is also advancing the clinical application of fiber-woven artificial blood vessels, which promises to introduce innovative solutions for cardiovascular disease treatment.
In the aerospace sector, the Five-starred Red Flag carried by the Chang'e-6 lander was successfully unfurled on the far side of the moon. This flag, made from ultra-fine fibers derived from basalt by Wuhan Textile University, weighs a mere 11.3 grams—less than two 1-yuan coins—and can withstand the extreme conditions of space. The same fiber technology is being applied to develop specialized products such as fire-resistant suits and other advanced materials for use in space exploration. Xu Weilin noted, "From bulletproof vests impervious to bullets to fire-resistant suits that cannot be burned, to materials enhancing wind turbine blades and large aircraft structures, fiber materials have undergone remarkable advancements. The application domains of the modern textile industry have expanded significantly compared to those of the traditional sector."
The transformation of the textile industry is not solely attributed to innovations in fiber materials but also benefits from advancements in automation and artificial intelligence. Modern textile factories are now equipped with automated assembly lines, real-time monitoring systems, and robotic splicing arms, leading to increased production efficiency and yarn quality. The industry has transitioned from being labor-intensive to technology-intensive, with intelligent manufacturing becoming ubiquitous.
During the "Two Sessions," Xu Weilin, along with fellow members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People's Congress (NPC), participated in discussions and deliberations on the "Government Work Report" and other key documents. He proposed recommendations aimed at accelerating the integration of intelligent textile materials into the health and elderly care industries, improving the national science and technology award review mechanism, and expediting the industrialization of artificial blood vessels and vascular substitutes. Through these efforts, he actively fulfilled his duties as an NPC deputy and contributed the expertise and insights of Wuhan Textile University.
