Chinese President Xi Jinping strongly called for continuous actions to expand and strengthen advanced manufacturing to provide powerful support for the promotion of Chinese modernization.
These statements were made by Xi during a recent address presented at the national conference on advanced manufacturing, held in Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday. Xi emphasized the need to achieve both high-quality development and greater security.
He stressed the necessity of adhering to the principles of smart, ecological, and integrated development, as well as enhancing the self-sufficiency and resilience of the country's industrial chains.
The President also noted the importance of accelerating the creation of a modernized industrial system where advanced manufacturing serves as the foundation, and strengthening the foundations of the real economy.
Premier Li Qiang, who is also a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the CPC, addressed the conference. Li noted that Xi's important directives provide the necessary foundation for the development of advanced manufacturing, emphasizing that China should regard the development of this sector as a crucial strategic task and steadily increase its potential.
Li insisted that the main direction should be next-generation intelligent manufacturing, with a special focus on digital and intelligent empowerment, high-tech production, and self-sufficiency, as well as low-carbon and ecological development and inter-industry integration.
He also stated that the innovative potential, competitiveness, and overall strength of advanced manufacturing must be continuously enhanced. Li called for deepening the 'AI plus Manufacturing' initiative, strengthening the guidance and support for enterprises in their digital and intelligent transformation, and consolidating the base of intelligent software and hardware.
Furthermore, China should promote the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services, develop service-oriented manufacturing, and form advanced manufacturing clusters based on local conditions.
In his concluding speech, Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee, stated that China must continue to implement the initiative for high-quality development of key industrial chains, accelerate the construction of a high-quality standard system, continue to address issues of disorderly and irrational competition, and create a healthy ecosystem for advanced manufacturing.