Standardization has played an important role in the development of China's steel industry during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), and is even more critical in the high-quality development of China's steel industry in future, according to industry experts.

Jiang Wei, deputy Party head of China Iron and Steel Association, said energy saving, emission reduction and low-carbon production are key factors in the sustainable development of the steel industry, and therefore, the industry should endeavor to build systemic standards on those aspects to achieve high-quality and green development.

Li Xinchuang, Party head of China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute, said high-quality development of the steel industry should center on technological innovation, for which standardization is key.

They made the remarks at a recently held forum on the industry's high-quality development and establishment of industrial standards.

According to Li, technological innovation includes not only the actual innovations, but also the promotion and application of innovative scientific and technological results.

Standardization improves the consistency in technological innovations, and thus lowers investment and risk while improving the efficiency of technological innovation.

Leading standards can also provide goals and motivation for technological innovation and lay the foundation for future technological innovation, he said.