The speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a symposium on private enterprises in Beijing on Monday has inspired these companies in China to strengthen innovation capacity and enhance their core competitiveness.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, encouraged private enterprises and entrepreneurs to strengthen independent innovation, transform development methods, improve their quality, efficiency and core competitiveness so as to contribute to scientific and technological innovations.
Private entrepreneurs highlighted the importance of technological innovation and industrial development as key strategies to navigate challenges, capitalize on opportunities, and contribute to the country's economic growth. "With the breakthrough of artificial intelligence (AI), the integration of 'AI plus' will lead to unimaginable new scenarios and business models across various industries. The security challenges brought by these new scenarios and business models are entirely novel, presenting significant hurdles before us. However, we have the confidence and determination. During the symposium, the General Secretary also mentioned that the central policies have been established, encouraging private sci-tech enterprises to actively participate in major national scientific programs and engage in projects for implementing major national strategies and building security capacity in key areas, as well as implementing large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs. I believe that these measures are meant to boost the morale of private enterprises and entrepreneurs, bolster our confidence, and ignite our fighting spirit. Following the General Secretary's directives at the symposium, we must focus on our core business and delve deeper into it," said Qi Xiangdong, chairman of Chinese leading security firm Qi An Xin Group.
"At this critical juncture, China's economic development is undergoing changes unseen in a century. The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the advancements in technologies including AI have brought both challenges and numerous opportunities to China's economic transition. We must gather our strength, integrate innovative technologies including 3D printing, robotics, and information technology, along with intelligent technologies, to infuse our manufacturing industry with the vigor of youth, and equip it with the wings of technology, which will drive the entire industry to contribute to the building of manufacturing power," said Peng Fan, chairman of the KOCEL Group, an iron and steel foundry in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
"I think the General Secretary has a deep understanding of private enterprises and the private economy, as well as a keen insight into some of the issues arising during development. The General Secretary encourages us to innovate, to take on responsibilities boldly, and to have a sense of social responsibility. In the past, we got a buzzword 'shopping overseas', with Chinese people buying and bringing powdered milk from abroad. But now, the trend is reversing with Feihe powdered milk being exported overseas to countries like the United States, Canada and Indonesia. Over the past decade, the market share of domestic infant formula milk powder brands in China has totally surpassed that of foreign brands. Although the path to internationalization is long, I think we're very confident in exporting Chinese quality and brands," said Leng Youbin, chairman of Feihe Dairy.
"After two or three decades of innovation and industrial development, we have actually ventured into uncharted areas in many specialized fields. We have established a prominent position for our industry globally, but at the same time, we're facing a host of new challenges. Concerning cutting-edge technologies, we need to achieve industrialization, promoting the best industry technologies internationally. For instance, in the field of life sciences, we might establish highly modern and leading-edge new parks. But in the meantime, we should expand our high-quality production capacity not only to meet domestic needs but also to tap into international markets," said Gao Yuejing, chairwoman of Sunresin New Materials.
Xi's speech inspires entrepreneurs to boost innovation capacity, core competitiveness
