https://www.scmp.com/rss/318708/feed Entrepreneurs and companies helping to lead the world’s second largest economy away from being the world’s factory into being one of its leading innovators and experimenters. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Alex Lo Alex Lo After the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803, which almost doubled the size of the United States’ territory, US president Thomas Jefferson commissioned the legendary Lewis and Clark expedition, which surveyed new routes from the Missouri river to the Pacific coast. It also carried out work in agriculture, ethnography (with indigenous peoples) and geography. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, that was the kind of science the US government was willing to pay for – practical,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3353088/us-scientific-self-harm-will-only-help-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3353088/us-scientific-self-harm-will-only-help-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s rapidly growing low-altitude economy has reached a new milestone, with the first four domestically trained commercial airship pilots receiving their licences – a step officials believe could help address a critical talent shortage in the sector. Issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the licences “signify a breakthrough that addresses the vacuum”, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) said in a statement this week. AVIC said the achievement... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352833/china-marks-milestone-first-home-certified-airship-pilots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352833/china-marks-milestone-first-home-certified-airship-pilots?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 03:00:31 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Inside the busy aisles and booths of the Fair Plus robotics trade show in Shenzhen this week, the usual stunt spectacle was replaced by practical tasks: robots sorting supermarket stock, serving popcorn and transporting oversized boxes. Among them, Shenzhen-based X Square Robot showed the real-world ability of its wheel-based humanoids, using the firm’s self-developed Wall-A embodied foundation model to pick up rubbish from the floor and place it in a bin. Currently deployed in on-demand... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351462/supply-chain-record-growth-shenzhen-dominates-chinas-robotics-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351462/supply-chain-record-growth-shenzhen-dominates-chinas-robotics-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 06:25:18 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip For the first time in its history – and in a striking departure from its long-standing doctrine of minimal economic intervention – Hong Kong is preparing to draw up a five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has asked all policy bureaus to help draft proposals by the end of the year. To lead the exercise, veteran civil servant Janice Tse Siu-wah has come out of retirement. The Legislative Council, not to be left out, has formed a committee supported by six coordinating groups spanning... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350403/how-markets-will-test-hong-kongs-new-economic-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350403/how-markets-will-test-hong-kongs-new-economic-model?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China is ramping up efforts to deeply integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its shipping industry by 2027, targeting breakthroughs in core technologies to build a smart maritime system as global competition intensifies. A new action plan by the Ministry of Transport and three other government bodies outlined a road map that includes creating at least three comprehensive pilot zones, launching more than five trial routes, developing over 10 replicable smart-shipping use cases and deploying... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348531/china-plans-ai-powered-smart-shipping-system-2027?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348531/china-plans-ai-powered-smart-shipping-system-2027?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:09:50 +0000 Mia Nurmamat,Ji Siqi Mia Nurmamat,Ji Siqi As Hainan pushes ahead with its free-trade port, the tropical island is emerging as a potential rival to Hong Kong’s long-standing role as a regional shopping and low-tax hub – even as both sides signal interest in closer cooperation. Since launching a separate customs regime three months ago, Hainan – now a gateway to the Chinese market – has positioned itself as a “super partner” to Hong Kong across industry chains, finance, tourism and other sectors, according to officials. “Hong Kong serves... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347323/chinas-hainan-free-trade-hub-reinvents-itself-hong-kongs-rival-and-partner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347323/chinas-hainan-free-trade-hub-reinvents-itself-hong-kongs-rival-and-partner?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:27:05 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Declining fertility rates have long been viewed as a drag on economic growth, but the outlook may not be entirely bleak for Asian economies such as China, South Korea and Japan, analysts said. Demographic pressure was accelerating investment in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in these rapidly ageing yet technologically advanced countries, helping offset labour shortages and sustain productivity even as populations shrank, they argued. Analysts at Bank of America (BofA) Global Research... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346475/chinas-ai-adoption-may-limit-economic-fallout-its-rapidly-ageing-population-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346475/chinas-ai-adoption-may-limit-economic-fallout-its-rapidly-ageing-population-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:58:35 +0000 Genevieve Donnellon-May Genevieve Donnellon-May A single policy could redraw global food supply lines and scramble markets from the Americas to Southeast Asia. In early February, the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee and State Council released the annual “No 1 document”, the country’s first policy statement of 2026 and its blueprint for agriculture, farmers and rural areas. As one of the world’s largest agricultural producers, importers and exporters, any shift in Beijing’s food strategy carries global repercussions. Covering... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344152/china-seeks-cultivate-food-supply-immune-geopolitical-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344152/china-seeks-cultivate-food-supply-immune-geopolitical-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Li Cheng,Tony Xiuye Zhao Li Cheng,Tony Xiuye Zhao The perpetual question of “who governs” finds stark expression in today’s US-China rivalry. As the two powers compete, the contrast between governance-by-technocrats in China and the predominance of lawyers in the United States is shaping each country’s respective development path. China is set to approve its 15th five-year plan, which will set development goals and strategies through 2030. It prioritises critical technological breakthroughs and industrial integration. Meanwhile, in the Trump... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3343150/how-washingtons-lawyers-stack-against-beijings-technocrats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3343150/how-washingtons-lawyers-stack-against-beijings-technocrats?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip At this time of year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s top priority is finalising the Hong Kong government’s budget for 2026-27, balancing requests for incentives and welfare against calls for a return to fiscal prudence. For decades, budget speeches have followed a familiar structure: a review of past performance, near- and medium-term forecasts, support measures for industries and social services, a report on the government’s fiscal position and financial estimates for the coming year.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342610/hong-kongs-budget-should-move-city-towards-inspirational-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342610/hong-kongs-budget-should-move-city-towards-inspirational-development?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Ying Xu,Weishi Zhang Ying Xu,Weishi Zhang The recent opening of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Hetao cooperation zone is a defining milestone in Hong Kong’s journey to become an international tech hub. Heralded by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu as a pivotal moment for local innovation, this is more than just a new facility; it marks a strategic transformation in Hong Kong’s economic identity. The park is designed as a world-class industry-academia-research platform for collaboration, focusing on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338622/hetao-tech-hub-hong-kong-reimagining-its-economic-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338622/hetao-tech-hub-hong-kong-reimagining-its-economic-future?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 01:30:12 +0000 Wang Huiyao Wang Huiyao Few developments over the past quarter century have been as consequential or widely debated as China’s ascent to global prominence as the vanguard of a rising Global South. To understand this change, we must look not only at outcomes but at the underlying drivers that made them possible. China’s development over the last 25 years did not occur by accident. It was not the result of any single policy. Rather, it was the cumulative product of farsighted design and vision as well as an evolving... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338103/key-lessons-chinas-ascent-over-past-25-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338103/key-lessons-chinas-ascent-over-past-25-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Standard Chartered said Chinese equities are looking more compelling after a period of consolidation, with cheaper valuations and earnings growth expected to rebound in 2026 from a low base in 2025, as monetary policy eases, global growth holds up and artificial intelligence-related investment stays strong. “After a period of consolidation, valuations of Chinese equities have become more attractive, and earnings growth is expected to recover from a low base,” said Raymond Cheng, chief investment... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336792/standard-chartered-keeps-overweight-call-china-stocks-flags-earnings-recovery-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336792/standard-chartered-keeps-overweight-call-china-stocks-flags-earnings-recovery-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 23:30:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo While China continues to produce many young self-made billionaires, showcasing its economic dynamism, observers have urged the creation of a more supportive environment, saying that innovation is still being held back. About 98 per cent of the super-rich in mainland China, with assets valued at US$1 billion or more, are relatively young first-generation entrepreneurs, reflecting the vitality and wealth-creation power of its economy, Swiss bank UBS said in a recent report. However, Beijing’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336231/chinas-growing-young-billionaire-class-masks-innovation-hurdles-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3336231/chinas-growing-young-billionaire-class-masks-innovation-hurdles-analysts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 03:00:17 +0000 Ni Tao Ni Tao For years, many foreign companies treated China as a vast consumer base or a low-cost manufacturing hub. Now that paradigm is shifting dramatically. China is not just where multinationals scale production or sell at volume; it is increasingly where they make strategic decisions, engage in serious research and development and innovate in ways that will have a global impact. For example, take Toyota’s R&D centre in Changshu, Jiangsu province. Led by local engineers, it has helped develop electric... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3333238/chinas-tech-rises-companies-must-rethink-their-rd-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3333238/chinas-tech-rises-companies-must-rethink-their-rd-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:30:09 +0000 Cui Jianchun Cui Jianchun The most important outcome of the Communist Party of China’s fourth plenum, held last month in Beijing, was the review and adoption of the “Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development”. Leading the drafting team in person, Communist Party General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinping played a decisive role in formulating the recommendations by setting the overall vision and providing guidance throughout the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3332731/15th-five-year-plan-charts-course-chinas-modernisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3332731/15th-five-year-plan-charts-course-chinas-modernisation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:30:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It is, perhaps, the best way for a brilliant scientist to depart. The life’s work of nuclear physicist Xu Hongjie was coming to fruition as his country announced a breakthrough in civilian shipping – the development of a greener and safer thorium-based nuclear reactor to power a giant cargo ship. Its energy output is expected to match that of the reactor for the US Navy’s most advanced Seawolf-class nuclear attack submarine, but it’s all for peaceful commercial use. Xu, who pioneered China’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3332779/chinese-science-contributes-safe-and-peaceful-nuclear-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3332779/chinese-science-contributes-safe-and-peaceful-nuclear-power?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Hangzhou-based AI and augmented-reality (AR) glasses maker Rokid on Thursday unveiled a lightweight, AI-powered eyewear device built in partnership with Chinese eyewear brand Bolon, as rivals race to make smart glasses the next mass-market device after the smartphone. The new model features a 38.5g D-shaped black frame and supports customised prescription lenses, allowing it to be worn like a regular pair of sunglasses with a more fashion-focused look. It includes a physical control button and a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3332766/smartphones-smart-glasses-rokids-latest-ai-frames-join-chinas-new-device-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3332766/smartphones-smart-glasses-rokids-latest-ai-frames-join-chinas-new-device-race?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:30:09 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Over 20 Chinese companies have earned a place on Time magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2025” list, with innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) recognised for the first time alongside advances in robotics and consumer electronics. Products from DeepSeek, Unitree Robotics and Huawei Technologies were among those featured on the annual list selected by the magazine’s editors. This year’s edition – covering 300 innovations across 36 categories, the most ever – marks the first time Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331354/chinese-ai-humanoid-robot-make-time-magazines-best-inventions-2025-list?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331354/chinese-ai-humanoid-robot-make-time-magazines-best-inventions-2025-list?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese artificial intelligence start-up Zhipu AI, marketed internationally as Z.ai, has seen the number of paid users overseas increase tenfold over the past two months, the head of its global operations said, in a sign of the growing appeal of Chinese AI services among global users. The Beijing-based company now has around 100,000 monthly API – or application programming interface – users, as well as 3 million free chatbot users overseas, following the launch of its flagship GLM-4.6 model, Li... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3331324/zhipu-ai-sees-tenfold-surge-overseas-users-chinese-ai-gains-traction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3331324/zhipu-ai-sees-tenfold-surge-overseas-users-chinese-ai-gains-traction?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s State Council has called for the faster development and wider rollout of large-scale testing and application environments for new technologies, as Beijing pushes to boost commercialisation and build a world-leading industrial base. The country should “focus on the frontiers of industrial development and key technological challenges, and prioritise the layout of new application scenarios in emerging fields and tracks, high-value niche areas and cross-regional and cross-sector domains,”... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331318/china-calls-faster-broader-adoption-advanced-tech-cement-industrial-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331318/china-calls-faster-broader-adoption-advanced-tech-cement-industrial-power?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:14:03 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Few areas of China reflect the country’s decades-long economic transformation more vividly than its cities. Rapid development has made villages into dense urban landscapes and already sizeable metro areas into some of the world’s largest population centres. As the rate of urbanisation slows and the country transitions into a new economic era, we explore how select Chinese cities are navigating the change. Read the rest of our series here. Once a remote industrial powerhouse forged deep in the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330490/chinas-old-industrial-cities-race-reinvent-themselves-rapidly-changing-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3330490/chinas-old-industrial-cities-race-reinvent-themselves-rapidly-changing-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:00:13 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), confirmed last month that Beijing was setting up a new “policy-based financial instrument” worth 500 billion yuan (US$70 billion). The special financing tool was first proposed in April – when trade tensions between China and the United States were rapidly escalating – to provide an extra injection of funding to accelerate domestic innovation and support the economy. It has the potential to drive trillions of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329244/china-has-new-500-billion-yuan-financial-instrument-how-will-it-be-used?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329244/china-has-new-500-billion-yuan-financial-instrument-how-will-it-be-used?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 03:00:10 +0000 Genevieve Donnellon-May Genevieve Donnellon-May Could China’s new K visa reshape the global competition for top talent? Beijing certainly aims to do just that. Officially rolled out this month, the visa is aimed at young foreign professionals in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. It targets graduates and professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree in STEM from recognised institutions or engaged in relevant education or research. Unlike other Chinese visas for employment or research, the K visa does not... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3328850/how-china-can-position-its-k-visa-success-race-global-tech-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3328850/how-china-can-position-its-k-visa-success-race-global-tech-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:30:09 +0000 Wang Huiyao Wang Huiyao As China transitions from the 14th to the 15th five-year plan, its economic trajectory is once again under scrutiny. External commentary often focuses on the short-term headwinds from a cooling property market and commensurately lowered growth, but these challenges obscure a more important story. Beneath the surface, China has a vibrant backbone made strong by the synergistic effects of infrastructure, human capital, technology and an unparalleled commitment to a green transition. These... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3326515/critics-are-missing-big-picture-chinas-economic-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3326515/critics-are-missing-big-picture-chinas-economic-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Liu Qian is the founder of Wusawa Advisory and formerly the managing director of The Economist Group in Greater China. She is also a prominent advocate for gender equality and the only Chinese representative in the core working group of the UN Women Leaders Network. In this interview, she discusses how Chinese innovation differs from Western innovation, where the US-China rivalry is headed and the critical role of women’s voices in policymaking. SCMP Plus readers get early access to articles in... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3326798/economist-liu-qian-chinas-innovation-rivalry-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3326798/economist-liu-qian-chinas-innovation-rivalry-us?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:45:08 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Beijing has pledged to accelerate the global adoption of its home-grown BeiDou satellite navigation system, an alternative to the US-run Global Positioning System (GPS) that already dominates China’s domestic market. At a summit on Wednesday, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang said the country was “enlarging its circle of international friends” after 31 years of developing the technology, which now accounts for over 70 per cent of the domestic consumer market share. BeiDou is increasingly integrated... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3326790/china-vows-speed-global-roll-out-beidou-its-home-grown-gps-rival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3326790/china-vows-speed-global-roll-out-beidou-its-home-grown-gps-rival?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:00:11 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo This year marks half a century of formal diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, as well as the 25th anniversary of the founding of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. The fourth story in our series examining ties between the two powers focuses on China’s efforts to influence the bodies that set global manufacturing standards, an arena where Europe plays a leading role. The 19th-century German industrialist Werner von Siemens once famously remarked that “he who... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325816/hidden-standards-battle-inside-chinas-push-rewire-global-manufacturing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3325816/hidden-standards-battle-inside-chinas-push-rewire-global-manufacturing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:00:13 +0000 Mia Nulimaimaiti Mia Nulimaimaiti China’s top economic planner has pledged to roll out at least five industry-specific artificial intelligence (AI) models tailored for the energy sector, as Beijing seeks to speedily integrate the cutting-edge technology into power grids and the coal, oil and gas industries. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said it aimed to introduce a framework incorporating AI into the energy sector by 2027. The goal was to strengthen the links between computing power and electricity, drive... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324761/china-targets-global-leadership-ai-driven-energy-sector-2030?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3324761/china-targets-global-leadership-ai-driven-energy-sector-2030?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:00:08 +0000 Mia Nulimaimaiti Mia Nulimaimaiti Hangzhou, in China’s Zhejiang province, will introduce mandatory artificial intelligence (AI) courses for primary and secondary schools starting in the new semester – part of a nationwide strategy to nurture talent in the rapidly growing sector. The initiative seeks to build a talent pipeline while improving educators’ ability to use smart tools and protect data, covering both student and teacher training, according to two documents released by the city’s education bureau. Schools will have... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3323082/chinas-hangzhou-makes-ai-classes-compulsory-schools-amid-nationwide-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3323082/chinas-hangzhou-makes-ai-classes-compulsory-schools-amid-nationwide-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 01:00:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Babies are clumsy – and so are humanoid robots. That may be why so many of us were amused watching videos of the non-human competitors at the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, and found them cute. While many managed to perform adequately when attempting backflips, boxing, jumping, running and kicking balls, tripping over seemed to be the order of the day. But for all the amusement and entertainment, this is a serious business. And China wants to make sure it leads the way. Not too... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322830/first-humanoid-robot-games-are-proof-future-already-here?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322830/first-humanoid-robot-games-are-proof-future-already-here?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China is set to deliver its first domestically developed e-beam lithography tool for commercial use, advancing its chipmaking capabilities and taking a step forward in the race for technological advancement. Lithography systems – among the most sophisticated machines ever created – are crucial for the mass production of chips, though China remains in the very early stages of developing such tools domestically. Named Xizhi after the famed ancient Chinese calligrapher Wang Xizhi, the new machine... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321887/china-debuts-first-e-beam-lithography-machine-commercial-use-chipmaking-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321887/china-debuts-first-e-beam-lithography-machine-commercial-use-chipmaking-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:00:15 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li With e-commerce platforms locked in fierce competition for China’s instant retail market, a prominent Chinese economist has called for government guidance that balances regulatory oversight with innovation and a push for new growth drivers. Wang Yiming, a central bank adviser, said “quick commerce” – involving the rapid delivery of food and essential goods, often within 30 minutes – creates new opportunities for consumption, which could be vital for long-term growth. He urged officials to guide... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321478/china-urged-curb-excessive-cash-burn-not-competition-fight-neijuan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321478/china-urged-curb-excessive-cash-burn-not-competition-fight-neijuan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China has launched its first drone ship to recover reusable rockets – becoming only the second country after the United States to master the technology – as Beijing pushes forward with its ambitious space programme. The launch of the new vessel marks a major step forward for China’s push to develop reusable rockets – a technology seen as vital to helping the country cut the cost of space travel and develop a commercial space industry. Beijing aims to catch up with the US in an intensifying space... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321210/china-launches-new-spacex-style-drone-ship-recover-reusable-rockets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321210/china-launches-new-spacex-style-drone-ship-recover-reusable-rockets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 08:27:55 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang After a construction boom spanning nearly two decades, China’s high-speed rail (HSR) network has made record-breaking strides. But to ensure long-term sustainability, analysts said the government needs to address challenges around commercial profitability and mounting debt. The warnings came ahead of the next five-year plan, covering the years 2026-2030, in which policymakers will decide whether to take on more debt to expand the 48,000-kilometre network – already the world’s largest, surpassing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320817/chinas-high-speed-rail-nears-50000km-milestone-debt-and-profit-concerns-mount?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320817/chinas-high-speed-rail-nears-50000km-milestone-debt-and-profit-concerns-mount?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:00:03 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu China has officially recognised “drone flight planner” as a profession amid a talent crunch in the low-altitude economy – a sector the government sees as a new engine of growth. The role is among 17 newly designated occupations announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, alongside positions such as cross-border e-commerce operation manager and elderly care service worker. “The newly designated profession of a drone flight planner primarily involves planning multi-drone... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319563/chinas-booming-low-altitude-economy-spurs-demand-drone-flight-planners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319563/chinas-booming-low-altitude-economy-spurs-demand-drone-flight-planners?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 02:00:13 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang A Chinese company has converted a giant cargo ship into a mobile fish farm as part of a project that aims to boost the nation’s food security by repurposing old vessels for use in aquaculture. The ship, named the Zhe Dai Yu Yang 60001, is a hulking bulk carrier measuring 225 metres in length and 32.2 metres in width, which used to have a capacity of 80,000 deadweight tonnes. But it will now be used to produce up to 2,800 tonnes of fish per year after its conversion by a subsidiary of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319136/china-converts-cargo-ship-giant-fish-farm-food-security-push-gets-creative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319136/china-converts-cargo-ship-giant-fish-farm-food-security-push-gets-creative?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 10:30:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi On his third trip to China in a year, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang – head of the world’s most valuable company – was on a full-blown charm offensive. As a guest of honour at the China International Supply Chain Expo, Huang’s visit underscored the recent thaw in Sino-US relations. Upon arrival, he announced Washington had cleared the way for Nvidia to export the H20 – a made-for-China AI chip less powerful than its gold-standard acceleration model, which was banned for export to the country in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318784/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-charms-china-trade-war-fears-still-lurk-beneath-surface?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318784/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-charms-china-trade-war-fears-still-lurk-beneath-surface?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Jul 2025 13:00:09 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng China’s robotics industry chalked up another world first on Thursday, as a company based in Shenzhen announced it had developed a new humanoid robot that can change its own batteries. A demonstration video released on Thursday shows the Walker S2 robot, developed by UBTech Robotics, walking over to a charging station, removing a depleted battery from its chest, inserting it into a charging dock, and then installing a fresh battery before wandering off. The feature means the robot can – in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318756/china-unveils-worlds-first-humanoid-robot-changes-its-own-batteries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318756/china-unveils-worlds-first-humanoid-robot-changes-its-own-batteries?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:45:13 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Subway trains across the southern Chinese megacity of Shenzhen welcomed an unusual new set of passengers on Monday, as the city deployed a fleet of delivery robots to restock convenience stores scattered around its subway system. Dozens of squat delivery robots have now begun riding subway trains across the network during off-peak hours, exiting at each station where a 7-Eleven is located to make deliveries, according to a report by local news outlet SZNews. The project is the first of its kind... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318287/china-delivery-robots-now-ride-subway-restock-7-eleven-stores?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318287/china-delivery-robots-now-ride-subway-restock-7-eleven-stores?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:01:16 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip The idea that Hong Kong could play a leading role in the global space economy was greeted with scepticism when I raised the possibility with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu earlier this month. However, critics fail to realise that space technologies have permeated many aspects of our lives – from checking the weather and ordering our meals on our mobile phones to navigating our daily commutes and settling stock transactions in real time. A report published by the American consultancy firm... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3317831/few-small-steps-hong-kong-giant-leap-chinas-space-sector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3317831/few-small-steps-hong-kong-giant-leap-chinas-space-sector?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Jul 2025 01:30:07 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li As the dust barely settles on “Made in China 2025”, Beijing is intensifying its quest for technological supremacy with a focus on “future industries” amid its escalating rivalry with the United States. Authorities are pushing boundaries in their pursuit of a new growth model centred on technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrades. What are “future industries”? First introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2020, the term refers to sectors with foundational technologies still in their infancy... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317889/what-are-chinas-future-industries-and-why-they-matter-global-tech-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317889/what-are-chinas-future-industries-and-why-they-matter-global-tech-race?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Jul 2025 01:00:08 +0000 Winston Mok Winston Mok Just ahead of the July 9 deadline to reach an agreement on tariffs, US President Donald Trump announced his decision on the tariffs levels for 14 countries – including a rate of 25 per cent on Japan and South Korea – effective August 1. Trump accused Japan of not buying enough rice and cars from the US. It’s worth noting that the American car industry is simply not competitive in Japan. Germany, Japan and China are the top three auto exporters. Those countries, along with South Korea, have... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3317197/how-china-japan-and-south-korea-can-be-titans-tech-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3317197/how-china-japan-and-south-korea-can-be-titans-tech-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 08:30:06 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang This is the third story in a three-part series exploring how China is betting on regional hubs to counter global trade risks and reshape its economy. In this piece, we focus on Guizhou’s transformation from one of China’s poorest provinces into a strategic pillar of trade war resilience. The 2025 trade war launched by the United States is shaping up to become a watershed moment for Chinese policymakers. While the country’s economic resilience and role at the centre of global supply chains helped... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317235/chinas-trade-war-strategy-bet-guizhou-long-one-its-poorest-provinces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317235/chinas-trade-war-strategy-bet-guizhou-long-one-its-poorest-provinces?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 22:00:15 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China is expected to sustain production of its home-grown aircraft and expand access to foreign skies, following the United States’ removal of a ban on selling American jet engine parts and technology to Chinese buyers. But analysts cautioned that earlier export restrictions imposed by the Trump administration had a chilling effect – one that could harden Beijing’s resolve to accelerate the development of indigenous engines and other critical components. Sales resumed last week after a bilateral... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317198/china-us-jet-engine-deal-boost-c919-production-comacs-eu-market-ambitions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3317198/china-us-jet-engine-deal-boost-c919-production-comacs-eu-market-ambitions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 06:00:13 +0000 June Xia June Xia China has launched a fully seawater-based solar energy system – the first of its kind suitable for industrial use and large-scale power production – as part of broader efforts to expand renewables in coastal regions, boost the maritime economy and drive industrial innovation. Located in Qingdao, Shandong province, the floating solar station builds upon another offshore photovoltaic power generation project launched in late May. Together, they form the largest initiative of its kind by Sinopec,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316987/solar-energy-milestone-china-taps-ocean-breakthrough-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3316987/solar-energy-milestone-china-taps-ocean-breakthrough-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The Chinese government has presented its first themed report to the top legislature on “new quality productive forces” – a growth model focused on technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrades – pledging to expand the use of home-grown large language models and attract more foreign investment. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s top economic planner, told lawmakers that China had made significant progress in advancing the development model, which President... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3315803/chinas-top-lawmakers-review-first-report-new-tech-driven-growth-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3315803/chinas-top-lawmakers-review-first-report-new-tech-driven-growth-model?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 01:00:13 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li This is the second story in a three-part series exploring how China is betting on regional hubs to counter global trade risks and reshape its economy. In this piece, we focus on the Yangtze River Delta’s evolution into a hi-tech heartland central to China’s ambition for greater self-reliance. In Suzhou, eastern China’s Jiangsu province, the start-up Magic Lab specialises in full-sized humanoid robots designed to interact with people and work in factories – just one example of the Yangtze River... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3315644/how-chinas-yangtze-river-delta-became-tech-powerhouse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3315644/how-chinas-yangtze-river-delta-became-tech-powerhouse?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 22:00:11 +0000 Dominik Mierzejewski Dominik Mierzejewski Chinese President Xi Jinping recently commemorated the 120th birth anniversary of Chen Yun, one of the foundational economic planners of the Communist Party of China. Amid the commemoration’s celebratory tone, Xi’s speech signals a rhetorical shift. The references to communist conviction so prominent in the 2015 address delivered for Chen’s 110th birthday were relatively sparse in Xi’s remarks from earlier this month. Instead, there was polished language relating to development planning and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3314615/facing-multiple-crises-china-stressing-resilient-governance-over-ideology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3314615/facing-multiple-crises-china-stressing-resilient-governance-over-ideology?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Nora Mankel Nora Mankel A robotics laboratory at the National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) in central China’s Hunan province has developed a mosquito-sized drone for covert military operations. NUDT researchers showed their work on various types of robots – from humanoid machines to tiny drones barely visible to the eye – in a report aired on CCTV 7, China Central Television’s military channel, on the weekend. “Here in my hand is a mosquito-like type of robot. Miniature bionic robots like this one are... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315206/chinese-military-robotics-lab-creates-mosquito-sized-microdrone-covert-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315206/chinese-military-robotics-lab-creates-mosquito-sized-microdrone-covert-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 08:01:07 +0000