https://www.scmp.com/rss/523406/feed The latest news and top stories on Li Lecheng, China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology since April 2025. He is focused on addressing excessive competition and overcapacity in China’s solar photovoltaic and electric vehicle industries, by tackling disorderly low-price practices and promoting the phase-out of outdated production capacity. He was the Governor of Liaoning province from 2021 to 2025 and Executive Vice Governor of Hubei. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ji Siqi Ji Siqi China’s artificial intelligence breakthroughs in recent years stemmed from the country’s strategic strengthening of its power grid, commitment to open-source models and complete manufacturing supply chain, according to Joe Tsai, chairman of Alibaba Group Holding. “Currently, geopolitical complexities are deeply affecting supply chain security and the sharing of technological achievements,” Tsai said in a speech on Sunday at the China Development Forum 2026 in Beijing. “In this era and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347485/alibaba-chairman-joe-tsai-credits-chinas-ai-edge-power-grid-open-source-models?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347485/alibaba-chairman-joe-tsai-credits-chinas-ai-edge-power-grid-open-source-models?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 11:46:56 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Ahead of China’s annual legislative meetings – typically a window into Beijing’s top-level policy agenda – this is the fifth entry in a series examining the complex economic recalibration driving China’s growth philosophy and its wide-ranging implications for local governments, financial investors and private enterprises. Chinese government and industry officials are likely to discuss plans to control domestic electric-vehicle (EV) makers’ output, while encouraging them to prioritise... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3344899/top-chinese-officials-industry-leaders-may-discuss-capping-ev-output-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3344899/top-chinese-officials-industry-leaders-may-discuss-capping-ev-output-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China’s industry regulator has pledged to provide more fiscal support for small-scale innovative firms in specialised industries – such as the country’s “little giants” – as part of a basket of measures designed to boost the country’s technological self-reliance and upgrade key industries. Li Lecheng, the head of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, told Xinhua that central authorities would implement a fresh round of fiscal support policies for small and medium-sized firms... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339608/china-vows-more-support-little-giant-firms-amid-self-sufficiency-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339608/china-vows-more-support-little-giant-firms-amid-self-sufficiency-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:30:20 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu China is expected to remain the world’s biggest buyer of semiconductor manufacturing equipment through 2027, as domestic chipmakers keep expanding capacity under Beijing’s push for greater tech self-sufficiency, according to a new industry report. Sustained investment across both mature-node and leading-edge processes would keep China the largest market for chipmaking tools until at least 2027, industry association SEMI said. Even so, the association expects the pace to ease, with sales... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3336933/china-remain-worlds-biggest-buyer-chipmaking-equipment-through-2027-semi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3336933/china-remain-worlds-biggest-buyer-chipmaking-equipment-through-2027-semi?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 23:00:11 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Lisa Su, chair and chief executive of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), on Wednesday met the Chinese minister of industry and information technology (MIIT), where she affirmed the US chipmaker’s “commitment to deepening its investments” in China, the ministry said. On her second day of a China trip, Su exchanged views with MIIT head Li Lecheng on “strengthening cooperation in the digital economy and artificial intelligence sectors”, according to a statement issued by MIIT on Wednesday. Su reportedly... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3336818/amd-chief-lisa-su-commits-deeper-china-investments-meeting-industry-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3336818/amd-chief-lisa-su-commits-deeper-china-investments-meeting-industry-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:04:37 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple CEO Tim Cook is looking forward to launching the company’s artificial intelligence system in China, following the successful effort to release the iPhone Air in the vast market. Capping his six-day visit to the country last week, Cook said at an event in Shanghai on Saturday that AI was “making a difference in people’s lives” and that Apple was “working on getting [Apple Intelligence] into China right now”. No timeline was provided. Apple Intelligence – a built-in AI feature of the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329686/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pushes-ai-system-launch-china-after-iphone-air-release?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329686/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pushes-ai-system-launch-china-after-iphone-air-release?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Apple CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday committed the US tech company to increased investment in China, even as trade tensions intensify between the world’s two largest economies. Cook made the pledge in a meeting with Li Lecheng, who heads the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), in Beijing after the US executive spent two days in Shanghai during his second visit to China this year. The two sides “exchanged views on the development of Apple’s business in China and strengthening... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329133/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pledges-increased-investment-china-meeting-miit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329133/apple-ceo-tim-cook-pledges-increased-investment-china-meeting-miit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:00:15 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong As China drafts its 15th five-year plan – the next entry in a line of expansive blueprints that have set the tone for the country’s development over more than seven decades – we explore what China will do in the field of science and technology, particularly regarding the introduction of scientific talent. For more stories in this ongoing series, click here. China aims to become a global leader in science and technology by 2035, and has identified the next five years as a critical, decisive... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3327566/china-charts-path-global-competitiveness-chips-and-ai-next-five-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3327566/china-charts-path-global-competitiveness-chips-and-ai-next-five-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:00:08 +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 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Beijing is trying to curb cutthroat price wars that have broken out in multiple sectors. Caused by overcapacity and insufficient demand, many companies have been locked into an unsustainable spiral of price-cutting that not only forgoes profits but imperils their very business survival. Ultimately, job losses will be a lose-lose for all sides concerned. Whether in food delivery, e-commerce or advanced manufacturing for batteries, solar panels and electric vehicles, excessive competition has... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3319240/chinese-companies-must-turn-involution-sustainable-evolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3319240/chinese-companies-must-turn-involution-sustainable-evolution?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China’s top market regulator summoned representatives of the country’s biggest online food delivery platforms last week, urging them to rein in a cutthroat price war that began in February. The State Administration for Market Regulation met representatives from Ele.me – a unit of South China Morning Post owner Alibaba Group Holding – Meituan and JD.com on Friday, and called on them to engage in “rational” competition. Ahead of the meeting, a senior Meituan executive said “irrational competition”... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3318997/china-talks-tough-need-curb-price-wars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3318997/china-talks-tough-need-curb-price-wars?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:00:08 +0000