The scientific and technological innovation base and the factory operated by China's leading automaker FAW Group in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, are driving the intelligent transformation of traditional manufacturing industries through the utilization of green and low-carbon facilities and automatic assembly technology.
An autonomous minibus at the sci-tech innovation base features only two rows of seats and a screen, without a steering wheel, a gas pedal and a brake. The camera and laser radar installed on the minibus assist in environmental perception, enabling it to navigate within the base and autonomously yield to pedestrians.
Moreover, a nearly 100-meter-long pathway with electromagnetic induction coils is installed at the base. As the minibus travels on it, wireless charging is initiated, thus ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the minibus.
The intelligent connected laboratory at the base is utilized to evaluate the overall performance of intelligent driving systems. Spanning an area of 15,000 square meters, the facility is outfitted with over 6,000 spraying devices and hundreds of LED light sets, facilitating smooth transitions of different experimental environments.
In the laboratory, a vehicle equipped with an intelligent driving system has undergone evaluation. In low-light and heavy rain conditions, the vehicle activated adaptive cruise control to trail the vehicle ahead. When the vehicle ahead changed lanes, the intelligent driving system identified risks more quickly than the driver and timely initiated emergency braking.
In another test scenario, the system promptly responded to the sudden appearance of a pedestrian, averting potential hazards stemming from the driver's blind spot.
In this laboratory, different vehicle models undergo repeated experiments, adjustments, and documentation in various environments so as to continuously enhance the intelligent driving system.
Five kilometers away from the base lies the FAW-Hongqi Prosperity Factory. The roofs of its workshop are covered with photovoltaic panels that can generate 14 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity per year, amounting to eight percent of the factory's total annual power usage.
The interior of the factory also showcases a high degree of intelligence. Over the past decade, FAW-Hongqi has launched over 20 vehicle models, including fuel, electric, and hybrid vehicles.
The final assembly workshop boasts 11 automated production lines capable of seamlessly transitioning between different vehicle models. Every minute, a Hongqi vehicle completes its production journey and rolls off the assembly lines.
Chinese carmaker FAW propels intelligent transformation of traditional manufacturing industries
China will take further steps to expand high-standard opening-up and create a new landscape of win-win cooperation in 2026, which marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said in a recent interview with China Media Group.
Wang said opening up and cooperation for mutual benefit are integral to Chinese modernization. This year, China will actively expand voluntary opening up.
The country will steadily open up such areas as value-added telecommunications, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, while accelerating comprehensive pilot and demonstration programs for expanded opening-up in the services sector, he noted.
"We will expand the scope and regions of unilateral opening-up and ensure the implementation of zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines for all African countries that have diplomatic relations with China. We will vigorously promote the effective implementation of policies for special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port, further enhance the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, optimize the regional layout and coverage of pilot free trade zones, and support these zones in carrying out more robust institutional opening-up trials in areas such as market access, environmental standards and government procurement, so as to better leverage their role as comprehensive pilot platforms for reform and opening-up," said Wang.
Wang said China will promote the orderly planning of cross-border industrial and supply chains.
Efforts will be made to deepen economic and trade cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance integration and connectivity across production and supply chains, and encourage cooperation in areas including green development, the digital economy, green minerals, new infrastructure and new energy so as to help build global production and supply chain partnerships that are equal, inclusive and constructive, he noted.
"We will give play to the platform role of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, expand overseas marketing networks and explore international markets through outward investment, achieve mutual promotion between investment and trade, and advance the integrated development of trade and investment. We will also improve the overseas comprehensive service system and the national-level overseas comprehensive service platform," said the minister.
In addition, China will participate constructively in global economic governance, according to the minister.
In 2026, Wang said, China will pursue flexible and pragmatic approaches to negotiate trade and investment agreements with more willing countries and regions, while strengthening economic and trade cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as BRICS, G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to further promote mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
China to expand high-standard opening-up to foster win-win cooperation: minister
