Abstract: Welding is one of the most important technologies of materials forming and processing in modern manufacturing industry, the development of welding technology is of very important significance in promoting China to be a manufacturing giant in the world. Based on the summary and analysis of the recent advances on welding science and technology in China, the future development strategies on the relative fields are proposed. Due to steels still hold the dominant role in the basic structural materials, the study of welding metallurgy for the new generation steels and the development of high grade welding consumables are the key topics in welding manufacturing. China is now the largest electronic production site in the world, however, the study and development in lead-free soldering materials and lead-free packing technologies are the sole way to ensure China to be the largest green electronic producer. High energy density welding, such as laser beam welding and electron beam welding, is proven an advanced welding process which could increase the welding productivity remarkably, the study and application of such welding process in equipment manufacturing should be encouraged. The numerical simulation on welding process is beneficial in the understanding of the complex physical phenomena involved in welding, which also provides important and practical basic data. Significant progress in the simulation of thermal process, residual stress, deformation and welding metallurgy is made in China in the past years, nevertheless, the practical application of the above achievements should be further investigated. Achievements in research on automatic welding and intelligent welding have shown that the high productivity and welding quality could be reached by using welding automation, however, the integrated application of welding automation should be studied. The research and application on evaluation of integrity of welded structures should be emphasized in order to ensure fitness for purpose of such structures.

Key words: High energy density welding, Lead-free solders, Numerical simulation, Welding, Welding automation, Welding consumables, frequency conversion, Inertia load, optimization design, punch, beam pumping system