China Directs Advanced Manufacturing Drive to Secure Industrial Chains

At a national conference in Beijing, Chinese leadership delivered directives to accelerate the expansion of advanced manufacturing and strengthen supply chain autonomy. President Xi Jinping stressed modernizing industrial systems through intelligent, green, and integrated production, while Premier Li Qiang prioritized an "AI + Manufacturing" push and technological self-reliance. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing underscored the need to implement targeted supply-chain upgrades while reining in disorderly, irrational competition among manufacturers.

The high-level gathering signals that advanced manufacturing and supply chain security remain central to Beijing's broader economic strategy. Beyond promoting intelligent production and regional clusters, leadership explicitly targeted irrational, cutthroat price competition across manufacturing subsectors, signaling potential regulatory scrutiny and standard-setting designed to stabilize industry margins and capital expenditure.

Chinese leadership called for sustained efforts to expand advanced manufacturing and fortify supply chain autonomy at the National Advanced Manufacturing Conference held in Beijing, according to state media reports. In instructions delivered to the conference, President Xi Jinping stated that China must balance high-quality development with high-level security. He urged the manufacturing sector to adhere to smart, green, and integrated development pathways, build an advanced manufacturing backbone for the modern industrial system, and consolidate the foundations of the real economy to advance Chinese modernization. Premier Li Qiang, who addressed the conference, described advanced manufacturing as an essential strategic priority. Li urged industries to pursue next-generation intelligent manufacturing, focus on high-end self-reliance, and implement lower-carbon practices. He called for a deeper rollout of the "AI + Manufacturing" initiative, urging stronger government guidance and support for enterprise digital transformation alongside investments in smart hardware and software foundations. Li also highlighted the need to scale emerging industries, plan for future sectors, and cultivate advanced manufacturing clusters tailored to regional strengths. Concluding the conference, Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing emphasized urgent implementation across key supply chains. Zhang instructed officials to build high-quality technical standards, support companies facing operational headwinds, and tackle "disorderly and irrational competition" within the sector, pointing to the need for a healthier market ecosystem. The two-day teleconference drew participation from central ministries, regional governments, state-owned enterprises, and financial institutions, with representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and the provincial governments of Jiangsu and Hubei presenting reports.