At a State Council Information Office press conference on August 26, officials detailed plans to fully execute the 15th Five-Year Plan and expedite a new wave of industrialisation. The central focus is building a modern industrial system anchored by advanced manufacturing, with six key areas of emphasis.

First, efforts will optimise the industrial structure by upgrading traditional sectors, fostering emerging industries, and strategically positioning future-facing fields. The goal is to cultivate new pillar industries including integrated circuits, aerospace, biomedicine, the low-altitude economy, new energy storage, and intelligent robotics. Emerging sectors like quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen and fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, and sixth-generation mobile communications are being positioned as future growth drivers.

Second, industrial innovation will be strengthened by enhancing original research and tackling key core technologies. National manufacturing innovation centres and pilot testing platforms will be expanded, directing innovation resources towards enterprises. A corporate-led industrial innovation ecosystem will be improved to boost overall efficiency and continuously foster new quality productive forces. Third, advanced manufacturing capabilities will be upgraded through next-generation intelligent manufacturing, promoting digital transformation, intelligent upgrades, and networked connectivity across the sector. Smart factories and high-standard digital parks will be established, alongside green and low-carbon industrial transitions and the integration of advanced manufacturing with modern services.

Fourth, the development of high-quality enterprises will be accelerated through a tiered cultivation system, expanding specialised and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises alongside more "little giant" firms and single champion manufacturers. Collaboration between large and small enterprises will deepen to enhance supply chain coordination. Fifth, the information and communication industry will pursue high-quality development, with faster planning for next-generation communication and computing networks. The widespread application of 5G and industrial internet in key sectors will be promoted, while research into 6G technology continues and network and data security capabilities are reinforced.

Sixth, industrial governance will be refined through legislative improvements in key areas such as telecommunications and road vehicles, alongside stronger efforts to combat telecom fraud.

Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xin Guobin stressed that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, four critical areas demand attention to expand value space, cultivate growth momentum, accelerate industrial upgrading, and foster a favourable ecosystem. To expand value space, the focus is on process technology advancement, product quality improvement, and brand development. Innovation-driven factor allocation will extend manufacturing along the "smiling curve" to enhance total factor productivity. For growth momentum, scientific and technological innovation will be deeply integrated with industrial innovation, leveraging public technology service platforms and pilot testing facilities to accelerate the journey from original research to scaled application.

Regarding industrial upgrading, the emphasis remains on developing advanced manufacturing and modernising traditional industries, which serve as both the foundation of manufacturing and fertile ground for new quality productive forces. The "AI + Manufacturing" initiative will be deepened, with comprehensive digital and intelligent applications across the value chain and full implementation of green low-carbon development actions. On the ecosystem front, the Ministry will act as a supportive partner for enterprises, advancing reforms, strengthening legislation for digital economy and artificial intelligence, enhancing mandatory standards, intensifying efforts to clear overdue payments owed to companies, and continuing burden-reduction initiatives.

Yao Jun, Director of the Planning Department, outlined a multi-pronged approach to accelerate the scale-up of emerging industries and build global competitiveness. Technical breakthroughs will target strategic areas and weak supply chain links, pursuing decisive advancements in key core technologies across integrated circuits, industrial machinery, high-end instruments, foundational and industrial software, advanced materials, and biomanufacturing.

Demonstration bases for national emerging industries will be established, focusing on next-generation information technology, new energy, new materials, intelligent connected new energy vehicles, robotics, biomedicine, high-end equipment, and aerospace. By 2035, the goal is to cultivate around 100 demonstration parks with significant influence in cluster development, collaborative innovation, and governance improvement. Large-scale application demonstrations will be launched for new technologies, products, and scenarios, accelerating major application scenarios such as "5G+", "AI+", "Robot+", "Industrial Internet+", and "Beidou+".

Finally, the ecosystem will be optimised to accelerate the aggregation of resources towards emerging industries. The new industry standardisation initiative will be advanced, alongside the "technology-industry-finance integration" programme and the establishment of national bases for training outstanding engineers. The development of service-oriented manufacturing and producer services will be encouraged, building a comprehensive support system spanning standards, finance, and talent to underpin the growth of emerging industries.