Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping stressed the development of advanced manufacturing. He also called for promoting industrial chain self-reliance through these efforts.

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Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping stressed his country's industrial chain self-reliance. / Xinhua

According to a report by state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 18th, President Xi delivered these "important instructions" at the National Advanced Manufacturing Conference held in Beijing on the 16th and 17th, stating, "Our nation's advanced manufacturing sector has continued to grow and develop. Its innovation capability, competitiveness, and overall strength have noticeably improved." He further assessed that "the building of a manufacturing powerhouse has taken solid steps forward."

He then called for efforts to "integrate high-quality development with high-level security, adhere to the directions of intelligent, green, and integrated development, and continuously expand and strengthen advanced manufacturing." He also emphasized, "We must raise the level of independent control over our industrial chains and accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system anchored by advanced manufacturing. By solidifying and expanding the foundation of the real economy, we must provide strong support for advancing Chinese-style modernization." This can be seen as reiterating the need to achieve self-reliance in China's industrial chains by expanding advanced manufacturing.

Premier Li Qiang also attended the event, touching upon the importance of fostering advanced manufacturing as well as the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI). Li stressed that "in step with the trends of the new scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, we must make next-generation smart manufacturing our main direction, placing greater emphasis on strengthening digital and smart capabilities in our development strategy." At the same time, he asserted, "We must actively promote intelligent, green, and integrated development in manufacturing by focusing more heavily on advanced self-reliant capabilities in technological pathways, green and low-carbon approaches in production methods, and convergence and integration in applications and business formats."

Li also called for deepening practical applications alongside the importance of industrial innovation momentum, basic research, and core technologies. "We must deepen and carry out the 'AI Plus (+) Manufacturing' initiative. By strengthening guidance and support for enterprises' digital and intelligent transitions, we must firmly solidify the foundation of intelligent software and hardware," he said, also calling for the deep integration of advanced manufacturing with the service sector.

The conference was held in a video format. 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, as well as Jiangsu and Hubei provinces, among others, delivered remarks, making it an event well worthy of the title National Advanced Manufacturing Conference.

                                                                                                           Hong Soon-do