Controlled nuclear fusion energy will be an ideal clean energy in the future. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project is the focus of research conducted by the international magnetic confinement fusion field. Frontier issues in scientific and engineering targets of the ITER project are introduced in this paper. Short-term, mid-term and long-term technical goals of magnetic confinement fusion research in China are proposed, and a roadmap of magnetic confinement fusion research in China is drafted. In the field of inertial confinement fusion (ICF), Z-pinch has potentials to be a future energy source. Remarkable progresses have been made from experiments of Sandia laboratory's Z/ZR machine. In China, a large number of basic researches have been carried out on the physics of Z-pinch radiation source, the driving ICF technology, and especially the energy coupling physics of the driver and the Z-pinch load. It is suggested that China should continue pushing international collaboration on the ITER project, study advanced science and technology on nuclear fusion reactors, actively promote R&D of key components of the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR), and start the CFETR construction at the right time. It is also suggested that China should support the construction of a new-generation high-current pulse power test platform, so as to promote Z-pinch fusion ignition and explore a Z-pinch driven fusion and fission hybrid reactor.