Chinese leaders vow more support for advanced manufacturing drive

Premier Li Qiang pledges further support for the sector, which the leadership sees as crucial to its efforts to counter US pressure

Li was speaking at a conference in Beijing, which also received a message from Xi Jinping, who said the drive was key to the ‘country’s modernisation’

Reading Time:3 minutes

China is fighting to retain its edge in areas such as renewables. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 10:00pm, 24 Sep 2023Updated: 11:02pm, 24 Sep 2023

The Chinese leadership has stepped up its efforts to boost advanced manufacturing, which it views as crucial for the country’s future growth and in countering pressure from the United States.

At a national conference held in Beijing on Friday and Saturday, Premier Li Qiang pledged to intensify support for modern industries.

“China should aim to enhance the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains, improve innovation power, optimise industrial structures, spearhead the integration of digital technology and the real economy, and facilitate the development of green industry,” said Li, according to state news agency Xinhua.

China aims to become an advanced manufacturing powerhouse by 2035, backed by smart and green industrial production. This year the leadership has placed a heavy emphasis on its importance in helping the economy’s post-pandemic recovery and longer-term growth.

President Xi Jinping also sent instructions to the meeting in which he said enterprises and the government should “lead the new round of technological and industrial revolution, and provide a powerful material and technological foundation for the country’s modernisation”, according to Xinhua.