In 2021, China has achieved major scientific and technological breakthroughs in key areas, including deep space, deep sea exploration, quantum information and clinical medicine. Let's take a look.

Shenhai Yihao, a semi-submersible oil production and storage facility, is located in the waters off South China's Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

First 100,000-ton deep water semi-submersible oil production and storage platform operates

On June 25, Shenhai Yihao, the world's first 100,000 metric ton deep-sea, semi-submersible oil production and storage platform, began drilling at Lingshui 17-2, an offshore gas field located 150 kilometers south of Hainan island in the South China Sea.

With a maximum operational water depth exceeding 1,500 meters and proven geological reserves of natural gas exceeding hundreds of billions of cubic meters, the gas field will play an integral part in the nation's efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.