At the opening of the National People’s Congress, China’s leaders will officially unveil a five-year plan (the 15th in a row) that gives technology a central role, Reuters reports. The document includes the development of artificial intelligence, robotics and the integration of technology into industry, as well as the expansion of capital investment through public and private funds.
The benchmark is the integration of AI into production
The key focus of the strategy is “AI-plus-manufacturing.” It focuses on the large-scale implementation of AI in the manufacturing sector through public corporations, as well as the creation of large-scale investment platforms for innovation.
According to expert Shin Nakamura, president of Japanese manufacturer Daiwa Steel Tube Industries, the policy will strengthen the leading position of large capital-intensive manufacturers but widen the gap with small and medium-sized enterprises. “The gap between large enterprises and SMEs in China will widen and consolidation will accelerate,” Reuters quoted an expert as saying.
There is also a focus on robotics and advanced hardware developments. According to Mike Nielsen, CEO of RealSense, “Mechatronics – especially balance, motor control and dynamic locomotion – have improved significantly over the past 12 months,” reflecting China’s technological advances.
The adoption of the five-year plan will be a critical benchmark for investors and global markets, especially in the context of growing technological competition between China and Western economies.
