China unveils ambitious plan for ‘Made in China’ upgrade within 10 years

China has unveiled an ambitious plan to revamp and upgrade its manufacturing sector to bring it up to par with that of industrialised nations in 10 years.

By 2025, Chinese manufacturers are expected to have boosted their productivity immensely through innovation, creating a batch of globally competitive multinational companies that are both resource-efficient and environmentally friendly, according to the "Made in China 2025" plan the State Council released on Tuesday.

"Manufacturing is the way out for China as it seeks a new economic driver and a new global competitive edge," it stated.

The plan comes as the country's economy slows and its low-end manufacturing sector loses steam amid rising labour costs, shrinking export demands, and tighter resource and environmental constraints.

The document highlights 10 focus areas to build a high-end manufacturing sector.

These comprise new information technology, numerical control tools and robotics; aerospace equipment; ocean-engineering equipment and hi-tech ships; railway equipment; energy-saving and new-energy vehicles; power equipment; new materials; biological medicine and medical devices; and agricultural machinery.

China is to become a global manufacturing power by 2049, as a strong manufacturing base is crucial for national security, according to the document.