Xi Issues Directive on Advanced Manufacturing as National Conference Opens in Beijing

Xi Jinping recently issued an important directive on developing advanced manufacturing. The directive noted that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China's advanced manufacturing sector has continued to grow and strengthen, with innovation capacity, competitiveness and overall strength markedly enhanced, and solid progress made in building a manufacturing powerhouse. The directive stressed that on the new journey, it is necessary to follow the guidance of Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully and accurately implement the new development philosophy, coordinate high-quality development and high-level security, adhere to the direction of intelligent, green and integrated development, continue to expand and strengthen advanced manufacturing, raise the level of self-reliance and controllability in industrial and supply chains, accelerate the building of a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as its backbone, consolidate and strengthen the foundation of the real economy, and provide strong support for advancing Chinese modernization.

The National Advanced Manufacturing Conference was held in Beijing from September 16 to 17, 2026, at which Xi's important directive was conveyed. Li Qiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, attended the conference and delivered a speech. Li Qiang said in his speech that developing advanced manufacturing should be taken as an important strategic task and that China should unswervingly march toward the goal of building a manufacturing powerhouse. Li Qiang proposed that China should conform to the trends of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, take the new generation of intelligent manufacturing as the main direction, pay more attention to digital and intelligent empowerment in development strategy, to high-end and self-reliant technologies in technical routes, to green and low-carbon methods in production, and to cross-sector integration in scenarios and business forms, so as to promote the intelligent, green and integrated development of manufacturing.

Li Qiang also proposed in his speech that China should focus on key areas, adopt comprehensive measures and make precise efforts to continuously enhance the innovation capacity, competitiveness and overall strength of advanced manufacturing. The speech called for building an engine driven by industrial innovation, strengthening support for basic research, intensifying efforts to tackle key core technologies, deepening the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements, accelerating the large-scale application of emerging industries, strengthening forward-looking layout for future industries, and promoting the renewal and upgrading of traditional industries. In addition, it is necessary to carry out the "AI plus manufacturing" initiative in depth, increase guidance and support for enterprises' digital and intelligent transformation, and consolidate the foundation of intelligent software and hardware.

The speech proposed promoting the deep integration of advanced manufacturing and modern services and innovatively developing service-oriented manufacturing. It is necessary to continue deepening reform and opening up, strengthen the principal position of enterprises, enhance the supply of policies and factors, create a favorable development environment, and boost the momentum and vitality of advanced manufacturing development.

Zhang Guoqing, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, said in his concluding speech that it is necessary to enhance the sense of urgency, responsibility and mission in developing advanced manufacturing, highlight priorities and grasp key links, deeply implement the action for high-quality development of key industrial chains, vigorously develop the new generation of intelligent manufacturing, accelerate the upgrading and integrated development of the industrial system, and solidly promote the implementation of various tasks. He said it is necessary to focus on giving better play to the role of market mechanisms, accelerate the building of a high-quality standards system, continue to rectify disorderly and irrational competition, actively help enterprises solve practical difficulties, and create a sound ecosystem for the development of advanced manufacturing.

Responsible officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, Jiangsu Province and Hubei Province made exchange speeches. Wu Zhenglong attended the conference. The conference was held by teleconference. Responsible officials from provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government and cities with independent planning status, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, relevant departments of central and state organs, relevant people's organizations, some financial institutions and enterprises managed by the Central Committee, relevant departments of the Central Military Commission organs, and relevant manufacturing enterprises attended the conference.