China's equipment manufacturing sector posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, providing solid support for the stable performance of the country's industrial economy, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.
In the first half of the year, the value-added output of the equipment manufacturing industry increased by 6.4 percent year on year, accounting for 20 percent of the value added by industrial enterprises above designated size and providing strong support for the stable operation of the industrial economy. The sector contributed 23.5 percent to the growth of value-added industrial output.
"New quality productive forces continued to expand at an accelerated pace. Output of industrial robots and service robots increased by 28 percent and 11.9 percent year on year, respectively. High-end equipment is making rapid progress, with major technologies vital to the country delivering notable results. Aviation equipment is accelerating its application. A total of 41 units of large passenger jet, the C919, have been delivered to date, and the jetliners have logged more than 130,000 safe flight hours. The AS700 manned airship has made its first appearance in flood control and emergency rescue drills," said Wang Weiming, the ministry's chief engineer.
"Breakthroughs continue to emerge in transportation equipment. The CR450 high-speed bullet train has completed full-vehicle testing. The market penetration rate of new passenger cars equipped with combined driver assistance features has reached 70 percent. In the shipbuilding sector, upgrades are promoted. The world's first 10,000-unit-class car carrier has been successfully delivered, and China's second domestically built large cruise ship, the Adora Flora City, has completed sea trials," he said.
Chinese equipment is also gaining traction in global markets, becoming a major driver of its export growth.
In the first half of the year, the export delivery value of equipment industry rose 18.2 percent year on year, contributing nearly 50 percent of the growth in industrial exports.
The country's exports of wind turbine generators and lithium batteries surged by 35.6 percent and 37.6 percent, respectively. Automobile exports reached 5.096 million units, up 65.3 percent year on year.
Chinese-built export vessels accounted for more than 90 percent of the country's completed shipbuilding output, new orders, and order backlog, reflecting a steady improvement in international competitiveness.
China's equipment manufacturing sector posts strong growth in H1
Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain said on Monday that they have intercepted Iranian aerial attacks.
The Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army said in a statement Monday night that its air defenses intercepted three missiles launched from Iran.
It said the interception caused no casualties or material damage, adding that it remains on high alert and will respond firmly to any threats to national security and sovereignty.
The General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force said that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed multiple Iranian aerial attacks against the kingdom.
It condemned what it called Iran's "systematic hostile approach," saying the "deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property" violates international humanitarian law.
Kuwait's armed forces said on Monday its air defense systems were intercepting "hostile" missile and drone attacks, as explosions were heard in parts of the country.
In a statement on social media platform X, the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces confirmed the explosions resulted from air defense systems engaging with "hostile" aerial attacks, urging the public to follow safety instructions issued by authorities.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said earlier on Monday that it had launched missile and drone strikes against U.S. assets and facilities in Kuwait and Jordan in response to continued U.S. airstrikes on Iran.
Recent strikes on Kuwait targeted military installations and some of its vital infrastructure, including oil facilities and power and water desalination plants, causing injuries and material damage.
Explosions were heard on Monday evening in Iran's southern provinces of Hormozgan and Fars, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
Several explosions were heard in Hormozgan's Sirik County, Mehr cited local citizens as saying, adding the nature of the blast remains unclear.
It also quoted Seyed Ahmad Ahmadizadeh, Fars' deputy governor for political, security and social affairs, as saying that the United States has carried out an airstrike against a region in the provincial capital Shiraz, without causing casualties.
Earlier in the day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared a "full-scale war" with the United States. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran has received mediation proposals and keeps its diplomatic channels open.
The United States has launched multiple strikes on Iran's southern provinces over the past week, saying they were aimed at "degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping."
Iran has responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military bases and facilities in regional countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain say intercepted Iranian aerial attacks
