3D printing emerges as powerful engine driving China's intelligent manufacturing

3D printing is emerging as a new driving force in China's intelligent manufacturing, bringing about more efficient production and wider application scenarios.

This technology has broken the limits of traditional manufacturing, enabling greater freedom in producing irregularly shaped objects. It not only brings designers' ideas to life, but also makes it possible for ordinary people to realize their creative ideas.

"3D printing is especially suitable for small-scale production. For example, if a product only has a small demand of 1,000 or 2,000 units, that production volume does not justify the cost of developing a steel mold or an injection mold. In such cases, using 3D printing allows for higher cost efficiency. Moreover, molds made with this technology can be updated very quickly. During the research and development phase, multiple versions of molds can be produced to test performance and optimize parts design," said Zhou Chengxu, marketing manager of Bambu Lab, a leading Shenzhen-based manufacturer of high-performance desktop 3D printers.

From everyday items to large-scale projects, 3D printing is expanding into a wide range of scenarios, including smart homes, art installations and urban construction.

Unlike traditional manufacturing methods, this technology is driving industrial production toward a future that is more efficient, more sustainable and more creative.

"This workshop mainly prints sculptures, cultural and creative products, smart home devices, medical equipment, as well as medium- and high-temperature molds for the aerospace sector. This piece depicts an urban renewal project. Outdoors, it can last up to 30 years depending on different environmental conditions. The material is resistant to corrosion and low temperatures and is biodegradable and recyclable," said Yang Jingqiang, engineer of Kings 3D, a prominent industrial 3D printing solution provider in China.

With its unique advantage on precision, 3D printing technology provides a green alternative to large-scale assembly-line production, especially when it comes to cost efficiency and carbon emissions.

"3D printing is a kind of additive manufacturing, which generates almost no material waste. This helps reduce costs and improve efficiency. In addition, you can produce any quantity you need. Whether it's one unit, ten units, or even a hundred, every model has the same finish, appearance and quality -- they are completely consistent. From an environmental perspective, the materials we use are biodegradable," said Chen Bingyun, executive deputy general manager of Kings 3D.

Today, Shenzhen, a global hub for innovation in south China's Guangdong Province, produces more than 90 percent of the world's consumer-grade 3D printers, allowing everyone to bring their ideas to life.

Through digital and flexible production, it breaks the limitations of traditional manufacturing and is becoming a new driving force behind intelligent manufacturing in China.

Official data from the National Bureau of Statistics show China's 3D printing equipment output surged 52.5 percent in 2025.

3D printing emerges as powerful engine driving China's intelligent manufacturing

Esko Aho, former Finnish prime minister, has stressed the importance of mutual understanding and cooperation between Asia and Europe, values he said underpin the importance of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026.

In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Esko Aho, who was in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, for the BFA annual conference, emphasized the need for greater understanding between Asia and Europe as the two continents pursue closer economic and political ties.

"I think when looking at Europe and Asia, there are a lot of similarities. We are technology-oriented. We have a lot of common interests to keep world trade to be fair and open. But then we also have differences. It's very important that Asia understands European minds and vice versa. For us, it's very important to understand the Asian minds in order to do good business, or to be good in politics, you have to be able to recognize these differences," he said.

On the role that Finland and the Nordic region can play in building up that understanding, he emphasized their predisposition to trust.

"The level of trust is very high in all Nordic countries. That is something which is making a difference in Europe, but I can say that even globally, it's very difficult to identify any other part of the globe where a level of trust between people is so high as it is in the Nordic region," he said.

Founded in 2001, the BFA has grown into a key platform for addressing Asian issues and strengthening cooperation both within the region and globally.

Aho described the forum as a window for the world to better understand China and a platform for exchanging views on global trends, adding that such dialogue helps foster cooperation and the development of common rules.

"It has been a window to see what's going on in China. For foreigners, it's a great opportunity to understand internal processes in China. This is a place for dialogue, so that we foreigners, we feel that when we are coming here, we are able to tell from our perspective, how do we see the world's global trends and developments. And in that way, let's say, to learn, to work together, which is so important in the future, because I cannot see that we are able to solve the problems of the world without having collaboration. We need collaboration and common rules," he said.

Themed "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation", this year's BFA annual conference is scheduled to run from Tuesday to Friday. It will focus on four core topics and feature more than 50 sub-forums, roundtables and dialogue sessions.

Boao Forum boosts mutual understanding between Europe, Asia: former Finnish PM