China will build a global quantum communication network by 2030, according to a leading Chinese quantum physicist on November 2.

"China's quantum information science and technology is developing very fast and China leads in some areas in this field," said Pan Jianwei, a Chinese quantum scientist and professor at the University of Science and Technology of China.

The field of quantum communication, the science of transmitting quantum states from one place to another, has grabbed global attention in recent years since the discovery of quantum cryptography, which is described as a way of creating "unbreakable" codes.

China will achieve Asia-Europe intercontinental quantum key distribution in 2020 and build a global quantum communication network in 2030, said Pan at the 2014 International Conference on Quantum Communication, Measurement and Computing, which opened on November 2 in Hefei, Anhui Province.

This is the first time that China has hosted the influential biannual quantum conference, which lasted until November 6.

More than 400 experts from 28 countries and regions discussed research, achievements and industrialization in the quantum information field during the meeting.