China has laid out sweeping technological ambitions under its new five-year plan, pledging to achieve major breakthroughs in artificial intelligence chips, accelerate the development of 6G communications, and establish global benchmarks for humanoid robotics. The strategy underscores Beijing’s determination to position innovation as a central engine of economic growth amid intensifying technological competition with the United States.
At a press conference on Wednesday, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said the government was prioritising advances in core AI technologies, including training chips and heterogeneous computing. These areas are seen as critical bottlenecks for China’s AI industry, particularly as restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports continue to shape the global tech landscape. The ministry said it would also push for deeper integration of AI across sectors such as software, biotechnology, and communications, while promoting breakthroughs in AI models and intelligent agents.
Alongside hardware and software development, authorities said they would focus on strengthening the broader AI ecosystem. This includes supporting the growth of enterprises, introducing industry standards, and encouraging open-source initiatives aimed at fostering collaboration and accelerating innovation. Similar efforts are planned for humanoid robotics, with the government pledging to build an open-source community and issue guidelines for embodied intelligence, a field that combines physical robotics with advanced AI systems.
China’s technology sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by both start-ups and established tech giants racing to bring new products to market. This momentum has been reinforced by strong policy backing from both central and local governments, which continue to prioritise high-tech industries in their development blueprints for the coming years.
Hangzhou, a major tech hub in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, offers a clear example of this local push. According to the city’s 15th five-year plan, Hangzhou aims by 2030 to nurture more than three internationally leading open-source foundational AI models and generate over 600 billion yuan in core AI industry revenue. The city is already home to prominent technology start-ups, including AI developer DeepSeek and robotics firm Unitree Robotics, highlighting its role in China’s broader innovation drive.
The MIIT said it would act on both the supply and demand sides of the economy to accelerate the formation of what it described as “emerging pillar industries.” Officials pledged support for local governments to establish pilot zones for future industries, expand backing from government investment funds, and encourage healthy nationwide competition in next-generation sectors.
Addressing concerns that rapid technological advancement could lead to widespread job losses, MIIT officials sought to reassure the public. Vice-minister Zhang Yunming said technological change would inevitably reshape employment but would not simply replace workers. He said the government would focus on improving AI literacy among workers and cultivating talent with skills spanning both AI and manufacturing. Drawing on historical precedents, Zhang argued that previous technological revolutions initially sparked job fears but ultimately raised productivity and created new employment opportunities.
On communications infrastructure, the ministry said China had recently launched the second phase of its 6G technology trials, building on the first phase, which resulted in a reserve of more than 300 key technologies. Officials said China would continue to follow a strategy of commercialising existing technologies while developing the next generation, steadily strengthening its information and communications capabilities.
Looking ahead, the MIIT said China would accelerate 6G research and development, cultivate a supporting application ecosystem, and step up work on next-generation optical communications and quantum computing. Together, these initiatives reflect Beijing’s bid to secure a leading role in the technologies expected to shape global economic and strategic competition in the decades ahead.
