China to accelerate AI innovation to empower high-tech manufacturing: MIIT

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced plans to enhance industrial innovation and accelerate AI-driven manufacturing, led by large language models, to speed up the development of new quality productive forces and the establishment of a modern industrial system.

In 2024, China's AI Plus initiative will be launched to facilitate the deep integration of artificial intelligence with the real economy, promoting LLM-led AI development to empower industrial upgrades, Zhao Zhiguo, the MIIT spokesperson said during a press conference on Tuesday.

China has been making steady progress in developing new quality productive forces. In the first two months of 2024, high-tech manufacturing saw a 7.5 percent year-on-year increase in added value, marking three consecutive months of accelerated growth, showcasing the economic development is getting a new potent driver, according to official data.

The ministry pledged to establish new national manufacturing innovation centers and forge world-leading high-tech industrial parks and innovation hubs. 

As a key driver of high-quality manufacturing development, China has established 178 national high-tech zones and 45 national advanced manufacturing clusters, scattered throughout the country.

Looking forward, the country will see the launch of national demonstration zones for new industrialization, backed up with initiatives to cultivate and enhance advanced manufacturing clusters, to advance tech innovation and accelerating the formation of new productive forces, according to the MIIT.

The spokesperson stated that in the future, the country will concentrate on three key areas to speed up forming new quality productive forces, including cultivating a modern industrial system driven by advanced manufacturing, enhancing industrial innovation capabilities, and promoting the deep integration of information technology and manufacturing.

China has taken a number of measures to bolster innovation and industrial upgrade and has seen some positive effects of the effort. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the output of high-tech and low-carbon products experienced significant growth in the first two months. The production of new-energy vehicles saw a notable increase of 25.6 percent, and the production of charging stations rose by 41.8 percent.

More efforts will be made to foster future-oriented industries, open up new fields such as quantum technology and life sciences, Zhao said.

The country will strive to integrate digital technologies into the real economy and integrate advanced manufacturing with the modern service industry, while fostering new growth engines in fields including biomanufacturing, commercial spaceflight, new materials and low-altitude economy, according to Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, at the China Development Forum 2024 which opened in Beijing on March 24.