The integration of sci-tech and industrial innovation gained momentum in the first half of 2025, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) playing an increasingly pivotal role, said Xie Shaofeng, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, at a press conference in Beijing on Friday.
Held by the State Council Information Office, the conference focused on the overall performance of the industrial and information technology sectors in the first half of 2025.
"The integrated development of sci-tech innovation and industrial innovation has quickened, and the AI empowerment has continuously become stronger. China's domestically developed and open-source AI large models are more rapidly applied to sectors of electronics, raw materials, and consumer goods, spurring the emergence of some new business models and industry formats. To date, more than 100 AI-powered consumer devices, such as smartphones, computers, and smart glasses, have appeared in the market, becoming a new growth driver for the country's economy," said Xie.
AI becomes China's new growth driver: official
China's economy is expected to maintain stable growth and show greater strengths in 2026, as the fundamentals sustaining the sound growth in the long run remain unchanged, the spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry Mao Ning said on Wednesday at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
Mao made the remarks in response to research reports from European financial institutions, which said that China is on course to maintain steady economic growth in 2026 with the underpinning of technological innovation and green transition.
Mao said that Chinese economy overcame risks and challenges in 2025 and contributed around 30 percent to global economic growth.
"Over the past year, China has effectively coped with various risks and challenges facing its economy. Despite mounting economic pressure, China has pushed forward with innovation-led and high-quality development. China has been at the forefront in scientific and technological innovation and green energy transition worldwide. The composite national strength reached new heights. China has continually advanced high-standard opening up and become the major trading partner of over 150 countries and regions. China has contributed around 30 percent to global economic growth, and injected impetus to global development," said Mao.
The spokeswoman also said that the year 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and innovation and green development would remain the engines of China's high-quality growth.
"Looking forward, with 2026 marking the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the core conditions supporting China’s long-term positive growth remains firmly in place, with the underlying upward trend unchanged. China will be showing greater strengths. Innovation and green development will be the driver and main features of China’s high-quality development. We will give a boost to common development worldwide through openness and shared benefit and keep advancing voluntary and institutional opening up. We will continue to run our own affairs well, write a new chapter in the story of China miracle, and also open our arms wider to embrace development and prosperity together with other countries. On the new journey of Chinese modernization, we will provide new driving forces and opportunities to both ourselves and the rest of the world," said Mao.
Chinese economy set to maintain stable growth in 2026: spokeswoman
