Innovation, high-tech manufacturing fuel China's GDP growth in Q1

Significant advancements in high-tech manufacturing and the emergence of innovation-led new quality productive forces have greatly bolstered China's economic growth in the first quarter of this year.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that during the period, China's GDP expanded by 5.4 percent year on year, surpassing expectations.

High-tech manufacturing enterprises above the designated size saw their added value rise by 9.7 percent from the same period last year. Notably, the output of new energy vehicles (NEVs), 3D printing equipment and industrial robots surged by 45.4 percent, 44.9 percent and 26.0 percent, respectively, reflecting the country's continued emphasis on technological innovation.

Local governments have intensified efforts to foster innovation, with increased investment in research and development.

Shanghai aims to raise its research and development expenditure to around 4.5 percent of its GDP this year. North China's Shanxi Province has implemented 30 major provincial science and technology projects and 150 key research and development programs, with the average research and development investment by large-scale industrial enterprises increasing by 13 percent over the previous year.

Northeast China's Jilin Province has put its focus on critical core technologies aligned with industrial needs. The province is increasing high-tech investment, aiming to achieve significant breakthroughs in key areas.

Other regions are expediting the planning and development of future-oriented industries.

Beijing is ramping up investment in areas such as humanoid robots, commercial aerospace, biomanufacturing, and new materials, alongside the development of 6G laboratories and innovation hubs.

East China's Jiangxi Province is implementing initiatives focused on cultivating and developing future-oriented industries, including establishing pilot zones and industrial parks.

These concerted efforts across various regions underscore China's commitment to high-quality development and its strategy to bolster economic resilience through technological innovation and the cultivation of new growth drivers.

Innovation, high-tech manufacturing fuel China's GDP growth in Q1

The world's first 20-megawatt offshore wind turbine was successfully installed in east China's Fujian Province on Tuesday, making it the first offshore wind turbine of this kind in the country to be installed, according to its developer China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG).

Once connected to the grid, the wind turbine is expected to generate more than 80 million kWh of electricity annually, which can meet the yearly power demand of around 44,000 households, while saving approximately 24,000 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 64,000 tons.

The wind turbine is located more than 30 kilometers offshore in waters exceeding 40 meters in depth. Installation faced multiple challenges, including a narrow construction window during the monsoon season, complex sea conditions and high risks associated with high-altitude operations.

To overcome the difficulties, the construction team deployed a fourth-generation wind power installation vessel with a lifting capacity of 2,000 tons. Supported by high-precision positioning and intelligent pile-driving control systems, the team steadily lifted three 147-meter-long blades to a height of 174 meters, accurately connecting them to the hub. The completed rotor has a diameter of 300 meters and a swept area equivalent to nearly 10 standard football fields.

The turbine is part of a national key research and development program, with all its major components independently developed and produced in China.

World’s first 20-MW offshore wind turbine installed in waters near Fujian