Xi stresses sustained efforts to expand, strengthen advanced manufacturing

China

Xi stresses sustained efforts to expand, strengthen advanced manufacturing

2026-09-17 20:12 Last Updated At：22:47

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged sustained efforts to expand and strengthen advanced manufacturing to provide strong support for advancing Chinese modernization.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the statement in a recent instruction, which was conveyed at a national conference on advanced manufacturing held in Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday.

Efforts should be made to ensure both high-quality development and greater security, adhere to the orientation of smart, green and integrated development, keep expanding and strengthening advanced manufacturing, and make the country's industrial chains more self-supporting and risk-resilient, Xi stressed.

He emphasized the need to accelerate the development of a modernized industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the backbone, and reinforce the foundations of the real economy.

Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a speech at the conference.

Xi's important instructions provide essential guidance for developing advanced manufacturing, Li said, noting that China must treat developing advanced manufacturing as a major strategic task, and press steadily to boost its strength in manufacturing.

Li stressed that next-generation intelligent manufacturing should serve as the primary direction, with greater emphasis on digital and intelligent empowerment, high-end manufacturing and self-reliance, green and low-carbon development, and cross-sector integration. Efforts should be made to continuously strengthen the innovation capacity, competitiveness and overall strength of advanced manufacturing, Li said.

Li called for deepening the "AI plus manufacturing" initiative, stepping up guidance and support for enterprises' digital and intelligent transformation, and consolidating the foundation of intelligent software and hardware.

China should also advance the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services, foster service-oriented manufacturing, and cultivate advanced manufacturing clusters according to local conditions, Li said.

Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said in his concluding speech that China should further implement the initiative for high-quality development of key industrial chains, accelerate the building of a high-quality standards system, continue to address disorderly and irrational competition, and create a sound ecosystem for advanced manufacturing.

China ready for autumn grain procurement as summer purchase draws to close

China has made full preparations for the upcoming autumn grain procurement as the summer procurement approaches its end, according to the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

For now, the country's total amount of wheat procurement has exceeded 100 million tons.

To protect grain farmers' interests, the government has promptly activated the minimum purchase price program for wheat. Sinograin has opened 164 purchasing sites across two major producing provinces of Henan and Anhui, offering to buy wheat at prices supported by the policy without any volume cap.

"The payment for my grain came through quickly today, and I feel much more at ease now that the minimum purchase price policy has been put into effect," said Hou Erwei, a local farmer.

As the autumn grain crop gradually ripens across the coutry, the autumn grain purchasing season is about to begin, expected to run from late September through the end of April next year.

The Autumn season accounts for approximately three-quarters of the country’s total annual grain purchases, making it the most significant grain procurement and storage period of the year.

This year, grain dryers and smart grain-handling equipment have been included into subsidy, helping ensure that the autumn harvest can be purchased, stored, and transported smoothly.

"At present, grain storage capacity, purchasing funds, personnel, equipment, and other resources are all in place. It is expected that grain purchases during this year's peak autumn harvest season will reach approximately 350 million tons. We will strengthen market monitoring and information dissemination, as well as make effective use of the drying and other services provided by post-harvest grain service centers to help farmers reduce losses and increase their incomes," said Luo Shouquan, director of Grain Reserves Department, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.