China’s government has pledged to increase its support for artificial intelligence (AI) applications and other technological advancements, according to a recent announcement.
An AI sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023.
The initiatives were detailed in a government document prepared for the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s legislative body. The move aims to foster technological breakthroughs and increase self-reliance in key sectors.
The government report highlighted plans to cultivate “industries of the future,” including:
- Biomanufacturing
- Quantum technology
- Embodied AI
- 6G technology
To achieve these goals, China intends to explore new models for its national laboratories and provide robust support and “important responsibilities” to young scientists and engineers. The strategy includes supporting the deployment of large-scale AI models and the development of next-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing tools. Noteworthy is the inclusion of AI models in the work report for the first time, following the global attention garnered by the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek.
“China will strive to create an enabling environment for innovation that encourages exploration and tolerates failure,” the report stated. The government also announced plans to expedite improvements to basic data systems and facilitate cross-border data flows.
(Note: 1 U.S. dollar is equivalent to 7.2651 Chinese yuan renminbi, as of March 4, 2025).
(Reporting by Brenda Goh, Liam Mo, Che Pan, and Casey Hall; Editing by Sandra Maler and Shri Navaratnam)
